DUTERTE: I WILL EXTRACT OFFICIALS DETAINED BY SENATE IN CORRUPTION PROBES

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday threatened that he will "extract" officials that will be detained by the Senate in connection with its investigation into corruption in government.

In a recorded public briefing, Duterte ripped Sen. Richard "Dick" Gordon anew over the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's investigation on Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corp., a company that supplied the government with allegedly overpriced anti-virus masks and face shields worth billions.

The President told government officials being investigated to leave Senate hearings led by Gordon, who is the chair of the Blue Ribbon Committee, in connection with Pharmally's alleged anomalous contract with government.

"'Wag kayo pumayag na sigaw-sigawan kayo ni Dick Gordon. Just stand up and go out. I said if the (Senate) sargeant-at-arms i-detain ka, then once I hear about it, I will go to the Senate and get you, extract you," Duterte said.

Last week, Gordon, Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson and other senators issued an arrest warrant against Chinese businessman Michael Yang, a former adviser of Duterte, for evading questions on government’s purchase of reportedly overpriced personal protective equipment through Pharmally.

The Senate also moved to detain Pharmally Pharmaceuticals executive Linconn Ong after earning the ire of lawmakers when he said he has to check with his accountants on the amount they paid their suppliers.

PHILIPPINES EYES COVID-19 VACCINE 'FILL AND FINISH' FACILITY BY 2022

The Philippines has set its sights on setting up a "fill and finish" facility for COVID-19 vaccines by next year, the Food and Drug Administration said on Monday.

"Ang plano po natin by next year, magkaroon po tayo at least ‘yung tinatawag po nating fill and finish. Meaning, dadalhin po sa Pilipinas ‘yong bulk product tapos dito na po natin ire-repackage doon po sa maliliit na vials, ampoules or mga syringes," FDA director general Eric Domingo said in a taped meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte.

"Ito po ‘yong nauna nating plano na tina-target po for next year. And then after that po, the year after that, ‘yun na pong manufacturing nang mas maraming ibang klase pong bakuna dito."

Authorities are talking to manufacturers in several countries like Cuba, China, and Russia for a possible "technology transfer" for the facility.

The Philippines, which is fighting one of Asia's worst coronavirus outbreaks, has confirmed some 2.3 million coronavirus infections, including about 36,000 deaths overall.

Government aims to vaccinate up to 70 percent of the country's 109 million people before the year ends to achieve herd immunity and safely reopen the economy.

GALVEZ: TOTAL COVID VACCINE DOSES RECEIVED BY PH COULD REACH 100M BY END-OCTOBER

The overall COVID-19 shots the Philippines is expected to receive will hit 100 million by the end of October, an official leading the vaccination drive said on Monday.

Authorities this week took delivery of some 9.5 million vaccine doses, the highest volume of deliveries in a week and raised the total jabs that the country has received so far to about 64.9 million, said vaccine "czar" Carlito Galvez Jr.

"We have now a steadier supply of Sinovac, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and then Moderna and COVAX. We are now renegotiating with the Russian Direct Investment Fund for the Sputnik Light," he said in a taped meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte.

"By the end of October, we will reach more or less 100 million doses delivery to the Philippines," added Galvez, a former military official heading the National Task Force Against COVID-19.

FIGHT EFFORTS TO REWRITE HISTORY, LENI SAYS ON MARTIAL LAW ANNIVERSARY

MANILA -- As the country marked 49 years since the declaration of martial law, Vice President Leni Robredo called on Filipinos to fight attempts to whitewash the atrocities committed during the bloody era.

Robredo said money and power might dictate history if Filipinos stay silent about what really happened.

"Kapag nanahimik tayo— kapag hindi natin pinadaloy ang naratibo sa sari-sarili nating mga espasyo, pera at kapangyarihan ang magdidikta ng kasaysayan."

"Kailangan nating ulit-ulitin, sa bawat pagkakataon, ang katotohanan: Sa ilalim ng rehimeng Marcos, nagdusa ang Pilipino—ninakawan, tinorture, at pinaslang; ginamit ang ngalan para ibaon ang bansa sa utang, at pagbabayaran ang utang na ito hanggang sa mga susunod pang henerasyon."

Robredo also reminded Filipinos that ills perpetrated during the Marcos rule continue to hurt the country to this day.

"Nasa sistema pa rin ang latak ng uri ng pulitikang naghari noon, at idinidiin pa rin nito ang maraming Pilipino hanggang sa ngayon," she said.

"Diktador si Marcos, at hindi niya napagbayaran nang husto ang krimen niya; katunayan, patuloy ang pagpapakasasa ng kanyang angkan sa kayamanang ninakaw niya mula sa atin."

Robredo said it's important that Filipinos continue to speak up on what happened during the dark days of martial law.

"Isa ito sa pinakaimportanteng trabaho natin bilang mamamayang Pilipino: Ang bantayan, igiit, at idiin ang pag-ukit sa kasaysayan ng tunay na kuwento ng sambayanang Pilipino."

The Department of Education said students are learning about human rights abuses committed during martial law.

AUSTRALIA'S PARTNERSHIP WITH US, UK BENEFICIAL IN THE LONG TERM — LOCSIN

MANILA — Australia's decision to enhance its military capacity through a deal with the United States and the United Kingdom would benefit the region in the long term, the Philippines' top diplomat said Tuesday.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said the Philippines welcomes Australia's enhanced trilateral security partnership with the US and the UK.

Locsin noted that ASEAN member states do not possess the military capacity to maintain peace and security in Southeast Asia.

"Proximity breeds brevity in response time; thereby enhancing an ASEAN near friend and ally’s military capacity to respond in timely and commensurate fashion to a threat to the region or a challenge to the status quo," Locsin said.

The country's top diplomat added that the actions of Australia reflect its concerns about the "geographic imbalance" in the region.

"In that regard, we believe that the fresh enhancement of Australia’s military capacity through this trilateral security partnership would be beneficial in the long term even to the other side if only for the additional time it affords all protagonists for reflection before reacting," he said.

Having multilateral groupings in the Indo-Pacific provides the capacity to respond to changes in the regional military balance, according to the DFA chief.

"For the Philippines, what is essential is Australia’s commitment to the primacy of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and ASEAN-led mechanisms," Locsin said.

SENATE SEEN TO INCREASE BUDGET FOR ROBREDO'S OFFICE

MANILA — Senators pledged Tuesday to increase the 2022 budget for the office of Vice President Leni Robredo, which they praised for its programs that responded to the needs of the people during the pandemic.

Senate finance committee chair Sen. Sonny Angara said there is support across party lines to increase the budget of the Office of the Vice President, which is only allotted P713.41 million in the National Expenditure Program.

Angara and Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri referenced the push of some lawmakers in the House of Representatives to increase the OVP’s budget to at least P1 billion, with the Senate finance panel chair saying this is “not an unreasonable goal.”

“Kung P1 billion po ang kailangan ni Ma’am Leni, bigay po natin sa kanya. Nakita naman po natin na napakasipag ng ating vice president. All she does is go out and continuously help out our kababayans all over the country and I admire her for that,” Zubiri said.

THE REST

========

PHILIPPINES RANKS 8TH IN GLOBAL COVID-19 CASES

MANILA — The Philippines ranked eighth among countries with the most COVID-19 cases in the past 28 days, according to the global tracker of the Johns Hopkins University and Medicine (JHU) based in Maryland.

Based on the JHU Dashboard yesterday, the Philippines was in eighth place with 527,114 COVID-19 cases in the last 29 days and 2,366,749 total cases as of Sept. 19.

The other Asian countries that made it to the top 20 of the COVID-19 table in the past 28 days are Malaysia at seventh with 542,737 cases; Thailand at 10th with 432,620; Japan at 11th with 390,827; Vietnam 13th with 340,316 and Indonesia at 17th with 221,481 cases.

The top six countries are the United States with 4,290,319 cases, followed by India with 1,023,929; United Kingdom with 943,964; Iran with 768,165; Brazil with 673,838 and Turkey with 623,820 cases.

Ninth is Russia with 516,723, France at 12th with 354,853; Mexico 14th with 335,568; Germany at 15th with 274,070; Israel 16th with 234,908; Cuba 18th with 219,182; South Africa 19th with 200,124 and Spain at 29th with 159,093 cases. Globally, a total of 228,493,023 COVID-19 cases were recorded.

CENTRAL VISAYAS READY FOR FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES

MANILA — The Department of Education (DepEd) in Central Visayas is ready to implement limited face-to-face classes in select schools in the region.

This developed after presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announced that President Duterte has approved a proposal to hold limited face-to-face classes in areas with low COVID cases.

Central Visayas education chief Salustiano Jimenez said he submitted a list of 52 schools including 28 in Cebu that could be allowed by the DepEd to hold classes in person.

In a press briefing yesterday, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said only 120 schools – 100 public and 20 private – nationwide were allowed to hold face-to-face classes.

Jimenez said he has yet to receive DepEd’s instruction that would determine which schools in the region would be allowed to hold classes in person.

Briones said there was no definite date when the face-to-face classes would start.

She said DepEd would soon release the names of the schools allowed to hold face-to-face classes.

AT LEAST 3,000 FAMILIES UNDER METRO MANILA GRANULAR LOCKDOWNS VS COVID-19

At least 3,000 families are under granular lockdowns in Metro Manila, as the region tested a new strategy to arrest the spread of COVID-19 and spur business activity, an official said on Monday.

The granular lockdowns are coupled with a 5-step alert system. The capital region's 13 million people are under alert level 4 until Sept. 30.

"Ang ginawa po natin sa granular lockdowns ay talagang hinimay-himay po natin iyon lamang talagang nakakaimpeksyon na lugar," said Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Benhur Abalos.

"Kung titignan po natin sa ngayon... 3,093 po ang pamilyang apektado," he said in a taped meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte.

The granular lockdowns covered at least 9 streets, 3 buildings, 101 condominium units, 48 compounds. No barangay was locked down, Abalos said.

Authorities next week will come up with a suggestion on whether or not to expand the COVID-19 alert system to more areas, said Interior Secretary Eduardo Año.

PHILIPPINE SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS SOON TO RISE IN NEW CLARK CITY: BCDA

MANILA - A Philippine Science High School learning center is being constructed within New Clark City, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said Tuesday.

The 4.6-hectare facility called the "Infinitum" will serve as a campus for senior high school students as well as a resource center for teachers and professionals, the agency said in a statement.

State-of-the-art facilities, advanced laboratories, academic spaces, training venues and living quarters will boost the school system's "modernization efforts," the BCDA said.

It will also house traditional and alternative learning, indoor and outdoor set-up, technology hub, research center, innovation center, multipurpose academic building, administration building and a summer camp and dormitories, which will be constructed in phases, it added.

The BCDA said the new facility aims to become the “center for learning and service continuity for the entire PSHS System.”

“We hope that with the new PSHS campus, we will be able to give more opportunities for quality education to deserving Filipino students especially in Central and Northern Luzon," BCDA President and Chief Executive Officer Vince Dizon said.

It will also contribute to the training of teachers and science and technology professionals in the country especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, he added.

Dizon said it is "crucial" to invest in science and technology to prepare for future pandemics as well as to address climate change.

The Philippine Science High School System is an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology.

PACQUIAO DONE WITH BOXING? NOT YET, SAYS RIGHT-HAND MAN

MANILA — Manny Pacquiao’s top associate insisted that the Filipino icon is not yet finished with his boxing career despite mentioning about it in an interview that had been making the rounds on the internet.

Sean Gibbons, president of Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, told ESPN.com’s Mike Coppinger that Pacquiao will make a formal announcement on his boxing career “in the coming weeks”.

"In the coming weeks, the senator will decide how he's going to finish his professional boxing career," Gibbons said. "After the fight and recently, he's discussed retiring [or] maybe one more [fight]. He's just talking out loud about different situations.

Pacquiao recently announced he is running for president as standard-bearer of his faction of the ruling PDP-Laban party, whose other faction is fielding Sen. Bong Go as president and incumbent chief executive Rodrigo Duterte as vice president. Go, however, has declined his faction’s nomination.

Gibbons, for his part, said that if and when Pacquiao announces his retirement, it will be made official through the eight-division world champion’s social media channels.

"Until you see it officially come out on his Twitter or Instagram, he isn't retired. Once you see it on a platform like that, it's official. Anything else is just talk about what his thoughts are in the moment. It's coming from him, but it's hearsay," Gibbons told Coppinger.

ERICE JOINS MORENO’S PARTY

MANILA — Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice ended his 18-year stay with the Liberal Party yesterday as he jumped ship to the political party of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno.

Erice and eight others took their oaths before Moreno as members of Aksyon Demokratiko.

Erice took his oath with Caloocan Councilors Alou Nubla, Christopher Malonzo, Alex Mangasar, Ricardo Bagus, Jerome Balete and Jefferson Paspie, as well as Jacob Cabochan and former city administrator Russel Ramirez.

Erice is planning to run for mayor next year with Malonzo as his vice mayor. Caloocan Rep. Along Malapitan will gun for his father’s seat.

PAGASA WARNS OF LA NIÑA ONSET

MANILA — Above normal rainfall is expected in many areas of the country with the onset of La Niña in the last quarter of this year until the first quarter of 2022, state weather forecasters warned yesterday.

“Recent climate monitoring and analysis indicate that La Niña may emerge in the coming months. Based on latest forecasts by most climate models and experts’ judgment, there is a 70 to 80 percent chance of La Niña forming in the last quarter of 2021, which may persist until the first quarter of 2022,” the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in a statement.

La Niña is characterized by unusually cool ocean surface temperatures in the Central and Eastern Equatorial Pacific.

The weather phenomenon will strengthen the easterlies, and enhance the northeast monsoon and tropical cyclone occurrences, which may all lead to higher probability of above normal rainfall conditions in many areas of the country in the next several months, PAGASA said.

All concerned agencies were advised to take precautionary measures to mitigate the potential adverse impacts of La Niña.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

"#NEVERFORGET, #NEVERAGAIN': BIANCA GONZALEZ REACHES OUT TO FRIEND TONI GONZAGA PRIVATELY

MANILA — Amid the issue surrounding the interview of her friend Toni Gonzaga with Bongbong Marcos, Kapamilya host Bianca Gonzalez expressed her stand about it.

In her Twitter account, the “Pinoy Big Brother” host revealed that she has been receiving messages on why she is silent about the issue.

“Many of you have you been tagging me. My stand has always, ever since, been very public: #NeverForget and #NeverAgain. I might have even seen some of you out at the rallies. I've gotten messages asking, 'Bakit tahimik ka sa issue?'” Bianca said.

Bianca said that she reached out to Toni privately about the issue rather than call her out publicly.

“As a friend, I choose to reach out privately and dialogue respectfully, instead of ‘call out’ publicly. Because for me, that is what a true friend would do," she said.

“Even family and friends can have different views. My friends know that my stand has always been #MarcosNotAHero, and I will continue to be vocal and share my stand," Bianca added.

Social media users called out Toni Gonzaga after her interview with the son of the late dictator on her YouTube channel.

Toni was trending on Twitter the whole week after she released her interview with Bongbong with the title "The Greatest Lesson Bongbong Marco Learned From His Father.”

SPORTS

MAD SCRAMBLE FOR QUARTERFINAL SLOTS

MANILA — Embattled champion Ginebra and the rest of the teams chasing quarterfinal slots are bracing for an all-out war as they make the final push for the PBA Philippine Cup playoffs this week.

NorthPort, NLEX, Alaska and Ginebra are hot on the trails of the three remaining slots to the Last-8 with Phoenix and Terrafirma still in play despite finishing the elims with identical 4-7 cards last week.

Crucial matches pitting San Miguel against Alaska, Ginebra versus Meralco, NLEX against Meralco and NorthPort versus Alaska are on tap for the remainder of the elims.

With 5-5 slates, the sixth and seventh-running Batang Pier and the Road Warriors can gain outright entry by taking care of business against Alaska and Meralco, respectively.

At 4-6, the Gin Kings face a virtual make-or-break in their showdown with the Bolts. A win may send Ginebra through or at least into a rubber match for No. 8 but a loss may prove fatal considering the team’s inferior tiebreak status in case of a deadlock at 4-7 with Phoenix, Terrafirma and Alaska.

The Aces (3-6) need a two-game sweep to spur their advance.

Second-running Meralco (7-2) is guaranteed of its quarterfinals place regardless of the outcome of their last two matches. But the Bolts have to win at least one to beat Magnolia (8-3) for the coveted No. 2 seeding and twice-to-beat advantage.

TNT Tropang Giga clinched the No. 1 spot in the next round with a 10-1 record. The PBA is set to finalize and release the schedule of games today.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 50.24

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The most beautiful discovery that true friends can make is that they can grow separately without growing apart. - Elizabeth Foley