DUTERTE TO SIGN 2020 NATIONAL BUDGET ON JANUARY 6MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte is set to sign the P4.1 trillion nationalbudget for 2020 on January 6, his spokesperson said Saturday.The signing is set on Monday at 4 p.m., Presidential Spokesperson SalvadorPanelo told ABS-CBN News.Congress submitted the 2020 budget to Malacañang on December 20, 2019 afterDuterte certified the spending bill as urgent, but its signing was set aweek after the yearend budget deadline.Panelo said the weeklong delay was because of Duterte's "thorough" scrutinyof the appropriations bill."This President is a lawyer so he knows what is unconstitutional or not sohe decides for himself," he said in an earlier interview.Malacañang earlier extended the validity of some parts of the 2019 budget upto the last day of 2020, citing the 4-month delay in its passage due tobickering among lawmakers over insertions last year.Duterte's Republic Act No. 11464 allows government agencies to spend 2019funds for maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE) and capitaloutlays up to December 31, 2020, on top of their allocations under the 2020spending bill.Several lawmakers are expecting the President to veto several portions ofthe 2020 budget which were supposedly inserted by members of the House ofRepresentatives shortly before the bicameral conference committee meeting.PINOYS IN IRAQ TOLD: PREPARE FOR MANDATORY EVACUATION AFTER US KILLING OFIRANIAN COMMANDERMANILA — Filipinos in Iraq have been urged by the Department of ForeignAffairs to coordinate closely with the Philippine Embassy and theirrespective employers in case a mandatory evacuation will result fromescalating tension in the region.A United States airstrike on Friday killed top Iranian commander QasemSoleimani at Baghdad's international airport in Iraq, triggering regionalconflict and a wave of backlash against President Donald Trump forsupposedly instigating war.“Based on info from our embassy - The crisis alert level for all areas inIraq is Alert Level 3 (Voluntary Repatriation) except for the IraqiKurdistan region which remains under Alert Level 1 (Precautionary Phase),”Assistant Secretary Ed Menez said in a statement.Alert Level 3 is issued in the event of violent disturbances or externalaggressions in a limited area where expatriates like overseas Filipinoworkers are advised to return to their own country.The next highest crisis status is Alert Level 4 (Evacuation/MandatoryRepatriation), which is issued when large-scale internal conflict orfull-blown external attack occurs.“There is also an existing deployment ban of new workers and householdworkers to Iraq,” Mendez said.“The situation in Iraq is being closely monitored and the DFA is prepared tosend a rapid response team should it be deemed necessary. Direct conflict inIran itself is presently unlikely.”Meanwhile, Filipino travelers have been urged by the DFA to cancel all tripsto Iraq until further notice as a precaution.The Philippine Embassy may be contacted at (+964) 781-606-6822; (+964)751-616-7838; and (+964) 751-876-4665 or via email: baghdad.pe@dfa.gov.ph;and/or via facebook page: Philippine Embassy in Iraq.WASHINGTON URGED TO LOOK AT UN REPORT TO IDENTIFY DE LIMA JAILERSMANILA -- A group of human rights experts working with the United Nationscalled for Sen. Leila de Lima’s release in 2018, concluding that herdetention was arbitrary in a report, which can now help Washington identifyPhilippine officials to be covered by targeted sanctions.A provision in Washington’s new spending law tasks Secretary of State MikePompeo to apply penalties against these officials under the Global MagnitskyAct, which includes preventing them from entering and freezing their assetsin the country.But naming specific individuals behind the arrest and “wrongfulimprisonment” of De Lima, a vocal critic of President Rodrigo Duterte,should be based on “credible information,” according to the provision.“It’s not rocket science to know this,” said Manila-based lawyer Tony LaViña, a member of the Committee for the Freedom of Leila De Lima.Since the sanctions were attached to Washington’s spending law, the StateDepartment is expected to impose them within the year, he said.“There is no more question about the illegality and the unjustness of thedetention. That’s determined already,” he told ABS-CBN News.“But who’s responsible... is something that’s left to the executive branchto determine.”PALACE: MINDANAO SHOULD REMAIN UNDER STATE OF EMERGENCY OVER INSURGENCY,TERROR THREATMANILA - Mindanao should remain under a state of emergency even aftermilitary rule was lifted at the turn of the year because of the persistingcommunist insurgency problem, Malacañang said Friday.Threats of terrorism are also another factor in maintaining a "state ofemergency on account of lawless violence" in Mindanao, PresidentialSpokesperson Salvador Panelo said."...[T]he same should remain imposed and strictly observed by the AFP (ArmedForces of the Philippines) and PNP (Philippine National Police) to ensurethe maintenance of law and order in all other parts of the country giventhat there remains the communist insurgency to reckon with, as well as thereis yet a terrorist organization resurrecting to be crushed," Panelo said.Strict security remains in effect in Mindanao because of President RodrigoDuterte's Proclamation No. 55."...[A]s long as the President deems it necessary to prevent or suppresslawless violence, invasion, or rebellion (such as at present times), then heis lawfully authorized to resort to this calling out power," Panelo said.Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo on Thursday said such protocolis necessary to counter "terrorist violence" in Mindanao.WRONG VENUE: SC JUNKS PETITIONS VS PROVINCIAL BUS BANMANILA — Saying the proper venue is a lower court, the Supreme Court (SC)has dismissed all three petitions filed by lawmakers against the provincialbus ban of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).The seven-page decision said the petitions filed by Rep. Joey Salceda andparty-lists Ako Bicol and Bayan Muna were dismissed “for violating thedoctrine of hierarchy of courts” when it directly sought the SC’sintervention instead of the lower courts.“We dismiss the suit for contravening the doctrine of hierarchy of courts…the doctrine is a practical judicial policy designed to restrain partiesfrom directly resorting to this court when relief may be obtained before thelower courts,” the SC said.The SC explained that the “hierarchy of courts” prevents “inordinate demandsupon the court’s time and attention which are better devoted to thosematters within its exclusive jurisdiction” and to prevent the congestion ofthe court’s dockets.It also emphasized that the SC should be the last resort of any legalintervention.35,000 METRIC TONS OF RED ONION IMPORTS SETMANILA — The Philippines will bring in as much as 35,000 metric tons of redonions after prices of the commodity shot up amid low supply in the market.In his first briefing for 2020, Agriculture Secretary William Dar saidguidelines are now in place for the issuance of import clearance for 35,000MT of red onions.“It will be good for two months and we also have to consider the caveatsthere. So the red onions can only be brought until mid-February so that itwill not be in competition during the main harvest time,” Dar saidyesterday.He explained that market analysis done by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)showed a gap of two months where requirements for onions will not be enough.One of the sources of the imports is China.“That is why we need to bring in the 35,000 MT. That is the principle.Historically, we have low production for onions that is why we need a newtechnology to increase our production,” he added.Red onions are for household consumption while the white ones are normallyfor institutional use such as restaurants.The latest market monitoring of the DA-Agribusiness and Marketing AssistanceService showed that the price for red onion is at a high of P280 perkilogram as of yesterday.Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, on the other hand, showedthat prices ranged from P180 to P260 per kilo. In supermarkets, the pricerange is from P150 to P200 a kilo.Last April, the country’s production of bulb onion increased by about 70percent of the total national requirement, satisfying household consumptionfor the first time. The increase in the local onion production is the resultof the expansion of planted areas in Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Pangasinan,Mindoro, Iloilo and some parts of Mindanao where farmers are starting toplant in small areas.The DA is now aiming for 100 percent self-sufficiency before the end of theterm of the administration. It also programmed the establishment of six coldstorage facilities in the country’s onion producing areas.INCREASED IRRIGATION ALLOCATION FROM ANGAT DAM SOUGHTMALOLOS – Bulacan farmers have appealed for increased allocation forirrigation as the water level in Angat Dam continues to rise.Data from the Bulacan provincial disaster risk reduction and managementoffice (PDRRMO) showed that the dam’s water elevation was recorded at 203.71meters as of 8 a.m. yesterday, an increase of around one meter compared toThursday.The PDRRMO said monsoon rains until Monday are expected to fill Angat Dam.Bulacan Gov. Daniel Fernando set a dialogue of farmer leaders and officialsof the National Irrigation Administration yesterday in response to therequest of farmers to intercede on their behalf with the National WaterResources Board (NWRB).Fernando said it is likely that the NWRB would increase its allocation forirrigation from 10 cubic meters per second to 20 cms. The normal allocationis 40 cms.“We are reviewing current rainfall data with the continuing increase in thewater level in Angat Dam. This should give us some basis on how muchincrease can be considered on top of the current allocation,” NWRB executivedirector Sevillo David Jr. told The STAR.Only farms in Baliwag, parts of Calumpit, Pulilan, San Ildefonso and SanRafael in Bulacan as well as San Simon, Apalit, Candaba and San Luis inPampanga are currently receiving irrigation allocation from Angat Dam.The dam supplies the bulk of water to irrigate 12,000 hectares of ricefields in Bulacan and 9,000 hectares in Pampanga.SHARE PRICES BOUNCE BACK DESPITE US ATTACK ON IRANMANILA — The stock market bounced back yesterday, outperforming its Asianpeers even as the US attack on Iran sent jitters to global stocks.The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index surged 97.26 points, or 1.25percent, to finish at 7,839.79.Likewise, the broader All Shares index gained 36.79 points, or 0.79 percent,to end at 4,655.54.All sectors ended in positive territory with the industrial and holdingfirms among the biggest gainers.Total value turnover, however, was thin at P5.6 billion even as marketbreadth was positive with 108 gainers against 68 losers, while 59 issueswere unchanged.Traders said the market perked up amid bargain hunting despite the thintrading volume.Net foreign selling prevailed, reaching P158 million as foreign sellingtotalled P3.3 billion versus foreign buying of P3.2 billion.“The PSEi gets bargain hunting boost but still with thin trades and P153million net foreign selling,” 2TradeAsia said.Asian stocks were subdued as Middle East tensions escalated with oil pricesjumping after Iraqi media reported on Friday that an Iranian militarycommander, Gen. Qassim Soleimani, was killed in a Baghdad airstrike.The US has confirmed that it launched a drone strike which followed a newyear’s eve attack by Iran-backed militias on the US Embassy in Baghdad.Immediately following the news, oil prices rocketed by nearly four percentin the morning of Asia trading hours with Brent crude soaring 3.98 percentto $68.90 per barrel.MANILA COURT DENIES BAIL PLEA OF 10 ACCUSED IN ATIO CASTILLO HAZING CASEMANILA (UPDATE)—A Manila court has denied the bail plea of 10 Aegis Jurisfraternity members accused of hazing to death University of Santo Tomas(UST) law student Horacio “Atio” Castillo III in Sept. 2017.Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 20 Judge Marivic Balisi-Umali junked thepetition for bail filed by Arvin Balag, head of the fraternity at the time,and 9 others implicated in the crime, finding that “the evidence of guilt ofeach of the accused [is] strong.”Besides Balag, the other accused are: Mhin Wei Chan, Axel Munro Hipe, OliverJohn Audrey Onofre, Joshua Joriel Macabali, Ralph Trangia, Robin Ramos, JoseMiguel Salamat, Danielle Hans Matthew Rodrigo and Marcelino Bagtang, Jr.The court found that all of them were present during the fraternity’s finalrites, with some of them, officers of the fraternity, citing the testimonyof Mark Ventura, a fraternity brother.“It was also established by the prosecution that accused Hipe, Trangia,Balag delivered blows on the victim using a paddle, others were identifiedto have delivered blows on the arms of the victim,” the court said in a56-page order dated Dec. 10, 2019, made public only on Friday.“It was also established that the herein victim was subjected to physicalinjuries and died by reason hereof,” it added.The 10 accused are facing a hazing charge under Republic Act 8049, whichcarries a penalty of up to 40 years in prison if the hazing resulted todeath.BRRR! TEMPERATURA SA BAGUIO BUMAGSAK SA PINAKAMALAMIG SA LOOB NG 4 BUWANBAGUIO CITY - Bumagsak sa 11.4 degrees Celsius ang temperatura satinaguriang Summer Capital of the Philippines nitong Sabado.Ito na ang pinakamababang temperaturang naitala sa siyudad simula buwan ngSetyembre ng nakaraang taon.Ayon sa weather bureau PAGASA, bunsod ito ng amihan o northeast monsoon nanagdadala ng malamig na hangin.Sa Atok, Benguet naman, bumaba sa 7 degrees Celsius ang temperatura ngayongaraw.‘NO SCRIPT, NO FUSS, NO PRETENSE’: KATHRYN BERNARDO LAUNCHES OWN YOUTUBECHANNELMANILA — Box-office superstar Kathryn Bernardo is the latest A-listcelebrity to launch her own YouTube channel, promising a look at herpersonal life with “no script, no fuss, no pretense.”Bernardo, 23, had been teasing in the past week, through Instagram photos, a“new beginning.” On Friday, she finally unveiled the project to be hereponymous page on the leading video-sharing platform.In her first-ever video, titled “Everyday Kath,” Bernardo is seen in adreamy setting apparently inspired by fairy tales, with “So This Is Love”from Disney’s animated classic “Cinderella” as background music.“She’s dressed like a princess but she walks around barefoot. She’s alldolled up but she’s not afraid to bask in the sun. She looks familiar so youbelieve you know her… but perhaps you don’t know her as well as you thinkyou do; in fact, perhaps you don’t know her at all,” its description goes.Within an hour of the channel’s launch, Bernardo became the top trendingtopic on Twitter, with her legion of fans expressing excitement over theprospect of getting to know the actress on a new level.Bernardo’s foray into vlogging is seen to help cement her status as a socialmedia superstar, having been listed as among the top Filipino personalitiesacross platforms, including Twitter and Instagram.WATCH: BELA PADILLA, JC SANTOS IN ‘ON VODKA, BEERS, AND REGRETS’ TEASERMANILA — Nearly three years after “100 Tula Para Kay Stella,” Bela Padillaand JC Santos are reuniting on the big screen in a film that promises to beas “heartbreaking” as the tandem’s debut.“Si Bela. Si JC. Ulit. Oo. Masakit ulit,” went the accompanying descriptionof the teaser for “On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets” released on Friday.In the first look from Viva Films, the characters of Padilla and Santosappear to meet at a bar and quickly develop a romantic relationship.The film was written and directed by Irene Villamor, who is also behind the2018 hit “Sid and Aya: Not a Love Story” starring Anne Curtis and DingdongDantes.“On Vodka, Beers, and Regrets” is scheduled for release on February 5.NBA SCORES JAN 2FINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Hornets 14-23    31    21    30    27    109team logo Cavaliers 10-24    29    30    26    21    106SCORING LEADERS    T. Rozier CHA30 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST    C. Sexton CLE21 PTS, 1 REB, 2 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Nuggets 24-10    27    35    30    32    124team logo Pacers 22-13    37    27    24    28    116SCORING LEADERSM. Porter Jr. DEN25 PTS, 5 REB, 1 ASTJ. Lamb IND30 PTS, 6 REB, 2 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Raptors 23-12    20    19    21    16    76team logo Heat 25-9    18    24    21    21    84SCORING LEADERSS. Ibaka TOR19 PTS, 10 REB, 0 ASTB. Adebayo MIA15 PTS, 14 REB, 2 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Warriors 9-27    19    22    26    17    84team logo Timberwolves 13-21    34    24    23    18    99SCORING LEADERS    G. Robinson III GS16 PTS, 6 REB, 1 AST    R. Covington MIN20 PTS, 10 REB, 2 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Jazz 22-12    25    22    29    26    102team logo Bulls 13-22    22    29    19    28    98SCORING LEADERSB. Bogdanovic UTA19 PTS, 6 REB, 1 ASTZ. LaVine CHI26 PTS, 4 REB, 5 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Thunder 19-15    27    19    28    35    109team logo Spurs 14-19    27    28    21    27    103SCORING LEADERSS. Gilgeous-Alexander OKC25 PTS, 7 REB, 5 ASTD. DeRozan SA30 PTS, 4 REB, 3 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Nets 16-17    30    35    28    18    111team logo Mavericks 22-12    31    29    33    30    123SCORING LEADERSS. Dinwiddie BKN19 PTS, 2 REB, 5 ASTL. Doncic DAL31 PTS, 13 REB, 7 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Grizzlies 13-22    42    18    37    26    123team logo Kings 13-22    26    37    27    38    128SCORING LEADERS    J. Morant MEM23 PTS, 1 REB, 7 AST    D. Fox SAC27 PTS, 4 REB, 9 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Pistons 12-23    33    30    16    33    112team logo Clippers 25-11    30    39    37    20    126SCORING LEADERSB. Brown DET15 PTS, 2 REB, 6 ASTM. Harrell LAC23 PTS, 4 REB, 0 ASTPBA: GINEBRA'S CONE WELCOMES LONGER BREAK BETWEEN GAMES 1, 2Ginebra coach Tim Cone welcomes the PBA decision for a longer break betweenGames 1 and 2 of the PBA Governors' Cup finals.Game 1 between Barangay Ginebra and Meralco will take place on Tuesday atAraneta Coliseum in Quezon City, followed by Game 2 at Quezon ConventionCenter in Lucena.Hence, the need for longer rest period in between games. This will also giveboth teams more preparation time ahead of Game 2.“It’s good. I think it’s a smart thing to do for the PBA only because Ithink the quality of the game should be better,” said Cone in a reportposted on Spin.ph.“It will give a little bit more recovery time going back, getting to Lucena,and a little bit more prep time.”The move will also benefit fans since they will be assured of quality andhighly competitive games.“I think the more you spread out the games, the better the quality of thegames are. That’s why I expect this series to be really high quality becauseteams are going to be fresh, and they are going to be rested,” said Cone.