DUTERTE SIGNS FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS BILL INTO LAW

MANILA — President Duterte yesterday signed into law a measure that would allow financial institutions to offload their souring loans, to help the banking system remain strong and ready to extend loans to pandemic-hit sectors.

“FIST (Financial Institutions Strategic Transfer bill) signed by PRRD today, Feb. 16, 2021,” Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said in a text message to reporters.

Earlier, the Department of Finance (DOF) said the FIST bill would allow banks to dispose of non-performing loans and assets through asset management companies.

This, according to Dominguez, would allow them to extend more credit to businesses that are in need of assistance to recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

This would also preserve the asset quality of banks, thus ensuring the continued strength of the financial sector and helping the economy recover from the damage caused by the health crisis.

Citing estimates from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the DOF earlier said the FIST bill would result in foregone revenues amounting to P2.9 billion to P11.6 billion in the next five years.

“Assuming all tax benefits are availed of in the next five years, this size of losses is manageable when compared to the potential risks from another possible financial crash,” the DOF said.

To ensure against wastage of public resources, the DOF earlier said the effectiveness of the incentives would be reviewed through a monitoring mechanism incorporated in the bill.

ASTRAZENECA COVID-19 VACCINES TO ARRIVE BY EARLY MARCH: OFFICIAL

MANILA - Some 5 to 8 million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines under global alliance COVAX Facility are expected to arrive in the Philippines between late February and early March, the presidential adviser for entrepreneurship said Wednesday.

The jabs are separate from the 17 million doses that the private sector and local governments procured, said presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion.

"Sa COVAX lahat 'yan sa government. Sa 17 million, about 6 million of that is para sa private sector," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.

"Di pa kasama dito 'yung AstraZeneca na manggagaling sa COVAX para sa national government. Ito ay dadating dito, ang balita late February early March between 5 to 8 million doses."

The private sector is in talks with Moderna to procure some 8 million doses and is also eyeing buying from Novovax, Concepcion said.

"Ito lang for now is the ang supply line na nakikita namin na puwedeng pumasok ang private sector at LGU," he said.

CHIEF JUSTICE PERALTA SAYS IT MAY BE TIME TO AMEND PROVISION SETTING DETENTION PERIODS

MANILA — Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta said it may be time to amend Article 125 of the Revised Penal Code that provides time periods — at most 36 hours — for delivery of persons arrested without a warrant to judicial authorities.

Peralta, during the resumption of oral arguments on Tuesday, noted that the penal code was first introduced in 1932 and times have changed.

Petitioners against the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 are assailing Section 29 of the law that states that law enforcers and the military can detain a suspected terrorist without a warrant of up to 14 days, extendible by another ten days, and not face charges for arbitrary detention.

The chief justice noted that when the penal code was first introduced, there may have been fewer Filipinos and there was no traffic too. “So it was very easy to deliver a person without a warrant within 36 hours,” he said.

Peralta also said new crimes were also developed over times, such as the dangerous drugs, qualified trafficking and syndicated estafa. With new crimes being introduced, more evidence and requirements are also needed in filing complaints such as witnesses’ testimonies, autopsy results, ballistic examination and other object evidence that may be found.

Under Art. 125 of the RPC, authorities will not face arbitrary detention charges if they will deliver to suspect to judicial authorities within specific timeframes: For a person accused of a crime punishable by light penalties, 12 hours; 18 hours for crime punishable by correctional penalties and 36 hours for crimes punishable by afflictive or capital penalties.

“My point is even if there is no 14-day provision of Section 29, I think that Article 125 should already be amended because that has never been amended since 1932,” the chief justice said.

He added that the courts have seen cases that were “hastily filed” due to the “restrictive period” of 36 hours.

SPEAKER VELASCO BACKS PLACING ENTIRE COUNTRY UNDER MGCQ NEXT MONTH

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco is backing a proposal by the acting NEDA secretary to place the entire country under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) starting March 21, or more than a year since the country was first placed under lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I personally agree with NEDA’s proposal to place the entire country under MGCQ next month. It is about time we safely relax pandemic restrictions to lessen the impact of COVID-19 on the economy," he said in a statement.

"With vaccines on the way, we should start encouraging our countrymen to patronize businesses again while strictly adhering to minimum health and safety protocols."

DUTERTE GRANTS REBELS AMNESTY, EXCEPT CPP-NPA

MANILA — President Duterte has granted general amnesty to members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Manggawa ng Pilipinas/Revolutionary Proletarian Army/Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPM-P/RPA/ABB) but left out the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

Under Proclamation Nos. 1091 to 1094, President Duterte extinguished the criminal liabilities and restored the political and civil rights of the members of the four major threat groups, with which the administration is pursuing continuing peace talks.

“Amnesty under the proclamation shall extinguish any criminal liability for acts committed in pursuit of political beliefs, without prejudice to the grantee’s civil liability for injuries or damages caused to a private person whose right to be indemnified is fully recognized herein,” the proclamation read.

“The grant of amnesty shall also effect the restoration of civil and political rights suspended or lost by virtue of criminal conviction,” Duterte said in the proclamation.

The proclamations were signed last Feb. 5 but was only released to the media yesterday.

SC JUNKS BONGBONG POLL PROTEST VS ROBREDO

Robredo: Victory of the people

MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC), sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), yesterday affirmed the victory of Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo in the 2016 vice presidential race as it dismissed the electoral protest filed by former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

SC spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka yesterday announced that the 15 members of the PET “unanimously” voted to dismiss the electoral protest filed by Marcos against Robredo in 2016.

“Today, Feb. 16, 2021, the Supreme Court sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal unanimously dismissed the electoral protest filed by former senator Bongbong Marcos against Vice President Leni Robredo. This is in connection with Presidential Electoral Tribunal case titled: Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., protestant, versus Ma. Leonor “Leni Daang Matuwid” G. Robredo, protestee, PET Case No. 005,” Hosaka said.

At 5 p.m. yesterday, the PET clarified that it dismissed the election protest for “lack of merit” and that the counter-protest filed by Robredo “is likewise dismissed.”

“Out of the 15 members of the tribunal who were present in today’s meeting, seven members fully concurred with the dismissal, while eight concurred in the result,” he added.

MARCOS CAMP SAYS FIGHT NOT OVER; PALACE RESPECTS RULING

MANILA — The camp of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said yesterday his election protest against Vice President Leni Robredo is not yet over.

Victor Rodriguez, lawyer for Marcos, said the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) only resolved the second cause of action and not the entire petition.

Rodriguez said the PET has yet to dismiss the third cause of action in the poll protest, which sought the annulment of votes in Mindanao. The PET, however, clarified later that the ruling covered all causes of action.

“The PET unanimously voted to dismiss our second cause of action, which is the manual recount and judicial revision,” Rodriguez said.

Malacañang said it respects the unanimous PET decision dismissing the poll protest of Marcos against Robredo.

THE REST

========

TAAL SHOWS SIGNS OF ACTIVITY; ISLAND RESIDENTS EVACUATED

MANILA — Around 200 residents of Taal Volcano Island were evacuated from their homes yesterday as the volcano showed signs of activity again.

“This order is for precautionary measure done in line with recent activities of the volcano, but Taal is not acting up,” the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) clarified.

The Philippine Coast Guard said police and Bureau of Fire Protection personnel as well as municipal disaster response teams helped the PCG evacuate residents in danger zones in Talisay, Batangas.

The NDRRMC said it is still gathering details on evacuation efforts from its provincial offices and local disaster risk reduction units.

'RESCUED' LUMAD CHILDREN SAID THEY WERE TAUGHT READING AND WRITING, NOT 'WARFARE TRAINING' — CEBU DSWS

MANILA — The Department of Social Welfare Services belied the national police's claims that the 19 children "rescued" from a Lumad bakwit school in Cebu were being indoctrinated as communist rebels, saying none of the children mentioned "child warrior training" in their exit interviews with social workers.

They were, the children themselves said, being taught reading and writing in a small nipa hut at the retreat house of the University of San Carlos-Talamban campus.

This comes after no less than Police Gen. Debold Sinas, the chief of the Philippine National Police, claimed in a statement Monday that "some of the children told [Women and Children Protection Desk] investigators that they underwent some form of warfare training while in the custody of their handlers."

"We won't comment on that. The children never said that to us. Nothing about training to be child warriors," Annie Suico, a social welfare officer with the Cebu City DSWS who was present when the operation was conducted, said in mixed Filipino and English in a phone interview with Philstar.com.

"We interviewed all of the children. They said nothing about being indoctrinated. Sulat at basa lang ang tinuturo ng mga guardian nila (All their guardians taught them were reading and writing)."

On the contrary, she said, the children were assessed to be in good condition by the time they were supposedly rescued before their interviews.

She was, however, careful to point out that these were only "initial interviews" where social workers "gathered limited data using our basic intake sheet."

To recall, 19 minors were taken away in the operation on Monday morning, along with two teachers and two elders.

In a live stream of the supposed rescue operation posted by the Save our Schools Network, children were seen screaming in a classroom as they were forced out by men in uniform.

It is yet unclear what they were being rescued from, as the teachers did not seem to be armed nor holding the children against their will, as shown in the videos of the operation.

LAWMAKER PUSHES BILL SEEKING FREE DIALYSIS FOR ALL SENIOR CITIZENS

MANILA — A lawmaker filed a bill seeking to fully reimburse all the dialysis sessions needed by senior citizens conducted in accredited hospitals or free-standing dialysis centers through the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation or PhilHealth.

In a statement released Wednesday, Sen. Risa Hontiveros disclosed that she had filed Senate Bill No. 2053 or the Free Dialysis for Senior Citizens Act of 2021 to remove all costs for the complete 144 dialysis sessions needed by senior citizens with kidney diseases amid widespread unemployment under the coronavirus-induced community quarantines.

"Dialysis has become the lifeline for so many of our senior citizens. It is already difficult to grow old, but it gets doubly harder for senior citizens who need to pay for dialysis. We should help ease the burden," she said in her statement.

2 PINAYS MAKE IT TO PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY'S 2020 YOUNG EXPLORERS

MANILA -- Two young Filipinas made it to the prestigious 2020 Young Explorer program of the National Geographic Society.

Together with other youth leaders from around the world, farmer-entrepreneur Louise Mabulo and youth advocate Josefa Tauli from the Cordillera region will be joining the 2020 class of NatGeo's Young Explorers.

This batch of NatGeo's Young Explorers is made up of 24 inspiring 17-25-year-old changemakers on the frontlines of the most complex and urgent issues of the world.

Mabulo, 22, heads The Cacao Project, a social venture aimed at equipping farmers for sustainability.

She also hosts an online cooking show aimed at promoting cultural diplomacy and locally produced with the Department of Foreign Affairs called Simply Sarap.

"It is an absolute privilege to be recognized by National Geographic Society for this honor — knowing that they align with our vision and are here to support me through it. It’s extremely reaffirming," she said.

On the other hand, 25 year-old Tauli is a member of the Steering Committee of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN), a global movement of young people active on biodiversity. GYBN also acts as the international coordination platform for youth participation in the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

A proud member of the Kankanaey-Ibaloi Igorot ethnic group from Baguio, Tauli advocates for the meaningful and effective participation of youth in environmental policy spaces, and Indigenous Peoples’ rights.

"I feel very excited and privileged to have been given the support by National Geographic to continue forward with the causes close to my heart. I'm also really looking forward to connecting with and learning from fellow youth who are all doing very inspiring work," said Tauli.

AURING IS HERE: FIRST TROPICAL CYCLONE OF 2021 ENTERS PH AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY

MANILA - A tropical depression off Mindanao entered the Philippine area of responsibility on Wednesday morning, becoming the country's first tropical cyclone for 2021, the state weather bureau said.

The storm, named "Auring", was last estimated 1,080 kilometers east of Mindanao as of 3 a.m. Auring is packing 45 kph winds near the center with 55 kph gusts, PAGASA weather forecaster Ana Clauren earlier said.

"Base sa ating latest track, posible po itong tumama sa kalupaan. Dadaan po siya sa area ng Visayas at Mindanao," she told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.

The storm might make landfall in Caraga or Eastern Visayas, she added.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

LIZA SOBERANO, ENRIQUE GIL SHARE SECRET OF PARTNERSHIP'S SUCCESS

MANILA – Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil have been together for six years already and they have worked on several television series and movies together since 2013.

While this is the case, the two told Los Angeles-based magazine Vulkan that it was on the set of their movie “Alone/Together” that they found themselves really taking acting to a whole new level.

According to Gil, the Black Sheep film was actually “our first real mature movie. It was a more serious movie.”

Although it was a milestone in their careers, Gil said he and Soberano were nervous at the beginning because they did not know if their fans would love it.

Before “Alone/Together,” the perennial love team used to headline romantic-comedy projects.

But their worries proved unfounded as fans “loved the authenticity of it and how the characters were flawed but real.”

For their dream projects, the two shared that they want to be able to do a movie involving zombies.

“We have a weird obsession and fascination with zombies,” they said. “They are not the perfect human beings but if you can understand the characters, you will fall in love with them.”

When asked what makes their partnership strong, Soberano said it is certainly the mutual respect that they have for each other.

“I guess we just have so much respect for each other,” she said. “He likes being with me. He likes being with his family. I am the same way. I don’t like being alone and I really enjoy his company.”

When they have arguments, Soberano said Gil is also the kind of guy who “won’t let me go away or go to bed without fixing it.”

Looking back at their journey, both could only marvel at the fact that they have been together for six years now.

“It’s just crazy we have made it this far. Well it’s not crazy that we have made it this far. We are going really strong,” they said.

SPORTS

NBA SCORES FEB 15

FINAL/OT

           1          2          3          4          OT       T

Bulls  11-15       24        25        30        26        15        120

Pacers  14-14   21        23        26        35        7          112

SCORING LEADERS

            Z. LaVine CHI

30 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST

            D. Sabonis IND

25 PTS, 10 REB, 5 AST

FINAL

           1          2          3          4          T

Rockets  11-16  34        35        20        30        119

Wizards  8-17    38        34        28        31        131

SCORING LEADERS

            J. Wall HOU

29 PTS, 3 REB, 11 AST

            B. Beal WAS

37 PTS, 8 REB, 3 AST

FINAL

           1          2          3          4          T

Hawks  11-16    28        35        27        22        112

Knicks  14-15    39        27        29        28        123

SCORING LEADERS

            T. Young ATL

23 PTS, 3 REB, 8 AST

            J. Randle NY

44 PTS, 9 REB, 5 AST

FINAL

           1          2          3          4          T

76ers  18-10     42        24        28        29        123

Jazz  23-5         35        37        34        28        134

SCORING LEADERS

            B. Simmons PHI

42 PTS, 9 REB, 12 AST

            J. Clarkson UTA

40 PTS, 0 REB, 1 AST

FINAL

           1          2          3          4          T

Cavaliers  10-19            32        22        30        14        98

Warriors  15-13 32        32        37        28        129

SCORING LEADERS

            C. Sexton CLE

23 PTS, 3 REB, 5 AST

            S. Curry GS

36 PTS, 2 REB, 6 AST

FINAL

           1          2          3          4          T

Heat  11-16       35        27        29        27        118

Clippers  21-8   33        34        25        33        125

SCORING LEADERS

            J. Butler MIA

30 PTS, 10 REB, 10 AST

            M. Morris LAC

32 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST

FINAL

           1          2          3          4          T

Nets  17-12       36        38        33        29        136

Kings  12-15     37        31        20        37        125

SCORING LEADERS

            K. Irving BKN

40 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST

            H. Whiteside SAC

26 PTS, 16 REB, 1 AST

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 48.25

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

To repeat what others have said, requires education, to challenge it, requires brains. - Mary Pettibone Poole