PALACE CONFIRMS: DUTERTE WON'T RUN AS VP IF SARA THROWS BID FOR PRESIDENCY

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte’s vice-presidential bid still hinges upon the presidential bid of his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, the Palace confirmed.

In a recorded address aired late Tuesday night, Duterte confirmed his party’s announcement earlier. He said: “Gusto talaga ninyo? Oh sige, tatakbo ako ng bise president. Then I will continue the crusade. I’m worried about the drugs, insurgency—well number one is insurgency, then criminality, drugs.”

But part of Duterte’s meeting with his Cabinet secretaries may have been cut and edited out when it aired late Tuesday night.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, quoting the president, said that should Sara Duterte run, Sen. Bong Go who received a nomination for the presidency from PDP-Laban but has not accepted, “is out.”

“For my part, dahil delicadeza, hindi po pwede dalawa kami dyan, if she runs, out na rin ako,” Duterte, as relayed by Roque, has supposedly said, the STAR reported.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, PDP-Laban’s executive vice president, also confirmed that Duterte said during the Tuesday meeting that he is “not convinced” to run for vice president if Sara will gun for presidency in the next polls.

In an interview with CNN Philippines’ The Source, Nograles said partly in Filipino: “Yes, he said that if Mayor Sara runs then he’s considering not running for vice president.”

“Because, again, he said that the Duterte-Duterte [tandem] to him, and he’s always been consistent on that, that if Duterte-Duterte, to him he’s not convinced that it should happen at least for 2022 national elections,” Nograles continued.

PARTY OVER?: FRACTURES IN PDP-LABAN

The Pacquiao faction of PDP-Laban claims that the Go-Duterte tandem is merely a "smokescreen" for their real presidential bet Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

According to them, the supposed tandem of Sen. Bong Go and President Rodrigo Duterte only serves as a distraction to shield the "real" candidate.

"It's very impossible that the right hand of the President will go against his boss' daughter," PDP-Laban says in a statement.

‘DUTERTE LEAVES SHAMEFUL LEGACY OF SQUANDERING ARBITRAL AWARD’

MANILA — President Duterte will leave a “shameful legacy” of squandering the 2016 Arbitral Award in exchange for Chinese loans and investments which have barely materialized to this day, former foreign affairs secretary Albert del Rosario said.

“If securing the Award became the centerpiece of foreign policy of the Aquino administration, the Award is the hallmark of shame for the Duterte administration, given President Duterte’s efforts to undermine it since the start of his term, to the prejudice of his countrymen,” Del Rosario said.

The country’s former top diplomat recalled that when the Award was rendered in 2016 at the start of Duterte’s term, there was already an order from Malacañang to “downplay” the Award for fear of displeasing China.

He described the “setting aside” of the Award as a “treasonous” policy of the Duterte administration.

“President Duterte has chosen China over Filipinos because he believes Chinese President Xi Jinping is protecting his presidency in the Philippines,” he stressed.

The Arbitral Award on the South China Sea rendered on July 12, 2016 by the Tribunal constituted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), he said, is one of former president Benigno Aquino III’s greatest legacies to the nation.

Del Rosario noted that securing the Award had been the centerpiece of foreign policy during the Aquino administration, and the Award will continue to be a centerpiece of Philippine foreign and security policy for the next administrations.

“The South China Sea dispute is an intergenerational challenge that will affect the lives of Filipinos and our Southeast Asian neighbors for decades to come,” he said.

He urged Filipinos to be discerning in the 2022 elections in the choice of leaders, saying the leaders should have genuine love for the Philippines as the country needs to regain its ground in protecting the West Philippine Sea.

“Let us be vigilant against traitors in our midst. We know who you are and whom you have embraced with your undying love to the detriment of our country’s patrimony,” he added.

FDA: PFIZER VACCINE NEEDS FULL PHILIPPINES APPROVAL

MANILA — Pfizer-BioNtech will have to apply for a Certificate for Product Registration (CPR) for its COVID-19 vaccines to be given full approval to be used in the Philippines, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said yesterday.

According to FDA director general Eric Domingo, once the CPR is granted, the vaccine can be procured by the private sector, paving the way for commercial availability. Currently, only the national government is allowed to purchase the vaccines because they are under emergency use authorization (EUA).

“This will increase public confidence in our vaccines because they can see that the clinical trials are complete, it has undergone thorough review and has passed safety and efficacy standards,” Domingo said.

The FDA expects Pfizer-BioNtech to submit an application in one to two months, while it takes the FDA another month to come up with a decision.

RELEASE OF HEALTH WORKERS’ BENEFITS ‘HOPEFULLY’ ON WEDNESDAY, SAYS DUQUE

MANILA—The health and budget departments could release benefits that are due health workers on Wednesday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said, after President Rodrigo Duterte gave the agencies 10 days to hand them out.

"We're hoping the . . . DBM (Department of Budget and Management) will release the SARO (special allotment release order) tomorrow," Duque said in a taped briefing on Tuesday night, adding that the "contingent fund is already being prepared."

The announcement came amid reports that thousands of medical workers are considering resigning en masse, as others already quit their jobs during the pandemic, complaining of low pay and poor working conditions.

Some healthcare employees also have sought better jobs abroad.

The Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines (PHAPi) earlier said that an estimated 40 percent of private hospital nurses resigned in 2020, but more followed amid new waves of infections this year.

Public hospitals are facing similar challenges.

The DOH had said it already released P10.85 billion for the special risk allowance (SRA) of 740,958 health workers, and another P4.24 billion for the hazard pay of 864,843 frontliners.

But a union leader said some health workers at private hospitals have yet to get their special risk allowances or hazard pay, despite repeated meetings with officials.

SENATE RATIFIES AMENDMENT ON HIGHER PENALTIES FOR PERJURY

MANILA — The Senate has ratified an amendment that seeks to impose higher penalties for perjury to stop people from committing the crime.

Senators approved the bicameral conference committee report on the conflicting provisions of Senate Bill 1354 and House Bill 8268, which seek to increase the penalties for perjury and amend Articles 183 and 184 of Republic Act 3815 or the Revised Penal Code.

Sen. Richard Gordon, chair of the Senate committee on justice and human rights and primary author and sponsor of Senate Bill 1354, said the higher penalties would deter people from committing perjury.

“The penalties we proposed are already sufficient to ensure that the intention of our bill is achieved. With the higher penalties, the crime would no longer be covered by the Probation Law,” Gordon said.

“We also made sure that we do not give a harsher penalty outside of the court so we won’t end up imposing harsher penalties outside of judicial proceedings.”

Under the proposed measure, perjury will now be punishable with a minimum of six years and one day to eight years in prison and a maximum of eight years and one day to 10 years.

The measure also seeks to impose a fine not exceeding P1 million if the person responsible for the commission of the felony is a public officer or employee, and perpetual absolute disqualification from any appointive or elective position.

SENATE APPROVES BILL SEEKING TO EXPEDITE ADOPTION PROCESS

MANILA — The Senate on Wednesday approved a measure seeking to fast-track and lower the cost of the adoption process in the country.

Senate Bill No. 1933 or the Domestic Administrative Adoption Act, sponsored by Sen. Risa Hontiveros who chairs the committee on women, cleared the upper chamber on second reading during a plenary session.

If the bill is enacted, domestic adoptions will be permitted through an administrative process within the Department of Social Welfare and Development, eliminating what Hontiveros and other proponents of the bill have called the time-consuming and grueling procedure of judicial adoption.

Along with Hontiveros, Sens. Nancy Binay, Pia Cayetano, Franklin Drilon, Leila de Lima, Christopher Go, Francis Pangilinan, Ralph Recto, Grace Poe, Bong Revilla Jr., Joel Villanueva and Juan Miguel Zubiri are co-authors of the bill.

MODERNA SEEKS NOD FOR EMERGENCY USE OF COVID-19 JAB IN ADOLESCENTS

MANILA — American biotechnology company Moderna has submitted a request to allow its COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 12 to 17, the head of the country’s Food and Drug Administration said.

During a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte, FDA Director General Eric Domingo said Moderna submitted its application to amend the emergency use authorization of its jab on August 19.

Experts are studying the data provided by Moderna and may come up with a decision until next week.

PALACE WANTS P28 BILLION NTF-ELCAC BUDGET

MANILA — Malacañang defended yesterday the P28-billion proposed budget for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) for next year, saying it would be spent for the poorest communities where rebel recruitment is high.

The Duterte administration is seeking a budget of P28.1 billion for the NTF-ELCAC in 2022, up from P19 billion this year.

“Even if there is a pandemic, we still know that hunger is the cause of insurgency. These projects will provide employment to those who are struggling in life and the reason why they become rebels,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said at a press briefing.

“Most of the barangays where the New People’s Army (NPA) recruits members are in fifth and sixth class municipalities,” he said in justifying the administration’s move to subsidize local projects such as those under the NTF-ELCAC’s Barangay Development Program (BDP).

Roque also denied allegations by the Makabayan bloc that there was an illegal fund transfer from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to the NTF-ELCAC.

“There is no truth to that because the funding is given directly to the communities,” the Palace spokesman said.

Roque said while the budget comes from the NTF-ELCAC’s program, the projects are being carried out by the local government units or the Department of Public Works and Highways.

He also assured the public that the funds transferred to communities would not be used for the 2022 general elections.

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NEW SWINE DISEASE OUTBREAK HITS 4 CAGAYAN TOWNS

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Four towns in Cagayan have recorded African swine fever (ASF) cases again.

Provincial veterinary officer Myka Ponce said testing confirmed that ASF recurred in seven barangays in Claveria, three in Ballesteros and one each in Piat and Aparri.

Forty-three hog raisers were affected by the new outbreak.

Ponce said their office sent a team last month to collect samples following reports of dead pigs in some hog farms in the barangays.

He said 308 pigs have undergone blood sampling and have been culled to prevent the spread of the swine disease in nearby towns.

Hog raisers in the province were advised to strictly enforce biosecurity measures and immediately report any hog death.

ISKO MORENO DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL AFTER BOUT VS COVID-19

MANILA— Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso was discharged from the Sta. Ana Hospital on Wednesday after 10 days of confinement due to COVID-19.

The Manila Mayor tested positive for COVID-19 on August 15, and was brought to the hospital on the same day after experiencing severe cough and mild colds.

"[Noong] Fifth day [of confinement] wala na sintomas. May awa ang Diyos talaga," the mayor told reporters on the eve of his discharge from the hospital.

Domagoso reportedly lost his sense of smell and taste - a symptom of the disease - on August 20, but regained them 2 days later.

Domagoso also shared a photo of a DOH announcement that showed that COVID-19 patients are deemed recovered when symptoms of the disease have already subsided after 10 days and if the patient is already symptom-free for 3 days.

Aside from the mayor, Manila Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna also tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month. She was discharged from the hospital last week.

The Manila Public Information Office has yet to answer queries if the mayor would proceed at home or resume work at the city hall.

BACLARAN DAY DINADAYO PA RIN SA GITNA NG MECQ

MAYNILA—Bawal pa rin ang public religious gathering sa Metro Manila ngayong modified enhanced community quarantine. Pero may mga ilan pa rin ang pumunta sa Baclaran Church sa Parañaque ngayong huling Miyerkoles ng Agosto.

Bawal pumasok ang mga tao tuwing may misa sa loob, na naka-stream online. Sa labas lang ng gate nakatayo ang ilang deboto para magdasal. Marami ring bikers ang huminto para manalangin kahit sandali. May mga taga barangay naman at pulis na nagpapaalala ukol sa health protocols.

Kapag walang misa, maaari namang pumasok para magdasal sa loob ng Baclaran Church. Pero limitado lang din ang kapasidad at ilang minuto lang puwede sa loob ng simbahan ang mga deboto.

Ipinapatupad rin ang health protocol sa loob ng simbahan. Ito'y para hindi rin magsiksikan lalo't Miyerkoles ay Baclaran Day na madalas pinupuntahan ng mga deboto.

Mas konti ang bilang ng mga misa ngayon kumpara dati. Kahit Baclaran Day, kung dati halos oras-oras ang misa, ngayon 4 lang ang misa sa Baclaran Church.

Ang mga iskedyul ay 5:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 3 p.m. at 5 p.m. Lahat naman ay mapapanood online.

QUEZON CITY ENABLES ONLINE PAYMENT FOR PROPERTY TAX, BUSINESS PERMITS

MANILA — The Quezon City government has launched a new electronic payment facility allowing residents and business owners to pay their real property dues and new business permit applications online.

The QC Pay Easy platform, which is part of the city’s e-services website, allows secure payments via credit card, Paymaya and fund transfer from BPI, RCBC, Robinson’s Bank and UnionBank.

Mayor Joy Belmonte said yesterday other online payment methods will be added over time and that the system will eventually be integrated with all online services that require payment at the city treasury.

“Paying taxes should not be taxing. That’s why the local government is keen on delivering cost-efficient and practical solutions such as this to address the woes of our taxpayers and business owners,” Belmonte said.

Individuals who wish to pay their real property tax or new business permit fees may do so via the QC E-Services portal (https://qceservices.quezoncity.gov.ph).

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

DANIEL PADILLA, CHARO SANTOS FILM WINS BIG IN SWITZERLAND

MANILA — Actress and former ABS-CBN president Charo Santos congratulated director Carlo Manatad and her co-star Daniel Padilla for the milestone win of their movie "Kun Maupay Man It Panahon" (Whether the Weather is Fine).

The film about typhoon "Yolanda" won the Cinema e Gioventu Prize (Youth Jury Prize) at the recent 74th Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland.

"This is indeed the fruit of all of your sacrifices," wrote Santos on Instagram.

She tagged Daniel and former MNL48 member Rans Rifol and said she is happy to be journeying with them in their career's "unforgettable moment." It is Rifol's debut movie after leaving the popular girl group.

"Kun Maupay Man It Panahon" is the only Philippine film selected to compete at the Locarno Festival’s Concorso Cineasti del Presente (Filmmakers of the Present Competition). The festival is known for highlighting works from up and coming directors around the world.

It focuses on the story of a young man fighting to survive while searching desperately for missing loved ones.

"Kun Maupay Man It Panahon" is based on Manatad’s own experiences from the aftermath of typhoon "Yolanda" that devastated Central Philippines in November 2013.

“The Cinema e Gioventu Award means a lot for me as a young filmmaker. As someone who just started delving into feature filmmaking, cinema for me, has always been a medium that transcends national and cultural boundaries. I am humbled and excited by this recognition and will continue to work hard in giving a voice to my fellow Filipinos through stories that have yet to be told,” said Manatad.

Globe Studios produced the movie alongside local production houses Cinematografica, Plan C, House on Fire, Quantum Films, iWanTFC, Dreamscape, Blacksheep, CBM Films and international partners AAND Company (Singapore), KawanKawan Media (Indonesia) and Weydemann Bros. (Germany).

The film is also invited to the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival from September 9 to 12, under the Contemporary World Cinema section.

“Globe Studios plays a role in telling the stories of ordinary Filipinos. We fund and produce films that we see would allow audiences, local and foreign, to better appreciate our unique culture,” Quark Henares, Head of Globe Studios said.

He added, “The film project was already greenlit when I came into Globe Studios and even then, I knew it was a great story to tell -- one that would not only enlighten its audiences, but also inspire the Filipinos amid these trying times.“

SPORTS

PH TEAM BEGINS CAMPAIGN IN TOKYO PARALYMPICS

The Philippine team officially launched its campaign in the Tokyo Paralympics Tuesday night.

Jerrold Mangliwan, a 2016 Rio Paralympic Games veteran, carried the flag for the Philippine delegation during the parade of nations at the National Stadium.

Joining Magliwan are Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo, swimmers Ernie Gawilan and Gary Bejino, and discus thrower Jeanette Aceveda.

They wore traditional barong Tagalog designed by the Bordadao ni Apolonia, a family of noted artisan embroiderers from Taal, Batangas.

Taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin and his coach, Dindo Simpao, are scheduled to leave for the Japanese capital on August 29.

Para-powerlifter Achele Guion, meanwhile, was ruled out for the Games after she had a positive COVID-19 test result.

The Tokyo Paralympics opening ceremony began Tuesday with a burst of fireworks as thousands of athletes who have endured a year-long pandemic postponement prepare to shatter stereotypes and world records.

The Games are opening with Japan battling a record wave of virus cases, and the pandemic will hang over every aspect of the biggest parasports event on the international calendar.

INDICATORS

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Isn’t it funny how day by day nothing changes, but when you look back, everything is different. - C.S. Lewis