PSG DENIES PROTECTING EX-DUTERTE ADVISER

MANILA — The Presidential Security Group (PSG) yesterday denied rumors that it is protecting Chinese businessman Michael Yang at the Dusit Hotel in Davao City.

“Personally, I do not know Michael Yang. I do not know his whereabouts, and definitely, no PSG personnel is securing him,” PSG commander Col. Randolph Cabangbang said in a statement.

Yang, a former economic adviser of President Duterte, has been accused of funding Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., the company that bagged more than P8 billion worth of deals for the purchase of COVID-19 response supplies.

Some senators have questioned how Pharmally, which only had a paid-up capital of P625,000, was able to bag the contracts. Yang has denied financing Pharmally, saying it was his friends who helped the company with its finances when it transacted with the government.

Two years ago, dismissed police officer Eduardo Acierto claimed that Yang was involved in the illicit drug trade but this was denied by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

Earlier this month, President Duterte defended Yang, saying he has been in business in the country for two decades.

ROBREDO SLAMS DUTERTE’S THREAT TO USE MILITARY IN ELECTIONS

MANILA — Vice President Leni Robredo slammed yesterday President Duterte’s threat that he might be forced to call in the military to ensure a peaceful conduct of the 2022 elections, saying the institution should not be used to scare the people.

Dutere warned on Friday that if needed, military force would be used to ensure that the elections next year will be peaceful, free and fair.

Robredo noted that the soldiers help maintain peace and order but the military may not always be needed to enforce every policy of the government, and it is wrong to use them as scare tactic.

“The military will always be there to help, not only during the elections, but at all times they are needed to maintain peace and order. They are there. What’s puzzling is the tone that seems to want to use the military to scare (the people),” Robredo said in Filipino during her weekly radio program.

“When it’s the elections they (the military) really help to maintain peace and order, because there really are many places where problems occur, but hopefully, let’s not use the institution to strike fear. Because, for me, when I saw that, I felt: ‘what is that?’ That again. Every time we want to enforce a policy, we use the military,” she said.

ROBREDO NOT GIVING UP ON OPPOSITION UNITY

MANILA — Still hopeful that opposition forces will unite for the 2022 elections, Vice President Leni Robredo is biding her time in deciding her own candidacy.

“If my decision is to file (for candidacy), I must be ready by Oct. 8. But as I see it, that’s still two weeks,” Robredo said in Filipino during her Sunday radio program.

For her, those two weeks mean time to pursue unification talks as long as communication lines with other presidential aspirants challenging the administration are open.

“We’ll see if there’s still hope to get together. Perhaps there are some we can no longer invite, but as long as the communication lines are open, I’ll keep on pursuing it,” Robredo, who chairs the Liberal Party (LP) said.

She emphasized the need to field a strong candidate against the administration, which is embroiled in corruption issues, and warned of danger if the opposition remains fragmented.

“In 2022, there are a lot of frightful scenarios that could happen. Like number one of these feared scenarios is the return of the Marcoses,” said the Vice President. “Second frightful scenario is that what’s happening now will continue to happen for six years.”

During her program, Robredo urged the public to watch the Senate investigation into the government’s purchase of supplies for the pandemic response.

TRILLANES SAYS TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IF NO ROBREDO MOVE BY OCT. 8 NOON

MANILA — Former senator Antonio Trillanes IV said he would seek the presidency in the 2022 elections if Vice President Leni Robredo does not declare her own bid by noon of the last day of filing of candidacies.

Bets for president, vice president, and senator are required to submit their candidacies from Oct. 1 to 8.

"Tuloy ang pag tulak natin kay VP Leni to run for President. Kung tumuloy siya, ipanalo natin siya," Trillanes said on Twitter on Sunday.

"Pero kung di pa rin siya makapagdesisyon by 12nn of Oct 8, tuloy na po ako ng pagka presidente. Di po natin hahayaang matalo ang TUNAY na OPOSISYON ng di man lang lumaban," he continued.

In 2016, Trillanes ran for vice president, and lost to Robredo.

PACQUIAO ACCEPTS SECOND NOMINATION FOR PRESIDENT FROM PROMDI PARTY

MANILA - Sen. Manny Pacquiao on Sunday received his second nomination for president from Probinsya Muna Development Initiative (PROMDI), solidifying support from several Visayan politicians.

PROMDI named Pacquiao as their standard bearer for the 2022 national elections in a ceremony held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City, the bailiwick of party founder and former Cebu Governor Lito Osmeña.

"I was nominated by PDP Laban, tinanggap ko yun (I accepted that). I was nominated by Promdi, tinatanggap ko rin (I also accepted that)," Pacquiao said in a statement.

"Tumatakbo ako para maging Presidente ng Pilipinas, para sa bayan. Kailangan ko magkaroon ng alyansa sa mga partido na kapareho ko ang pananaw para maisulong ang kapakanan ng bayan," he said.

PROMDI chose the boxer-senator as its standard bearer because he "represents the dreams and aspirations of all promdis" - a Filipino slang used to refer to people from the province - said Mimo Osmeña, son of the party founder.

"Pinalad lang po sa aking narating," Pacquiao said.

"Hindi lahat ng promdi na dumayo sa Kamaynilaan ay pinalad tulad natin kaya ang nais ko matupad ang pangarap ng mga tulad kong promdi," said the world boxing icon who hails from General Santos City in Mindanao.

PNP ACADEMY HEAD SACKED AFTER HAZING DEATH OF CADET

The chief of the Philippine National Police has relieved the Director of the PNP Academy after the hazing related death of a cadet there.

MGen Alex Sampaga will be taking over the PNPA from MGen Rhoderick Armamento, who is transferred to the PNP Directorate for Information and Communication Technology in Camp Crame.

Cadet Third Class George Karl Magsayo, 21, from Pagadian City, died last Thursday after he was allegedly punched several times by his upperclassman.

Witnesses said a certain Cadet 2nd Class Caesar Steve Maingat punched Magsayo five times inside Maingat's room after an altercation.

The PNPA said Maingat was detained at Silang Municipal Police Station. He is set to face charges for violation of RA 8049 or the Anti Hazing Law of 1995 as well Termination from the Cadetship Program.

Meanwhile, PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said he ordered PNPA director Maj. Gen. Rhoderick Armamento and the directorate for human resources and doctrine development to review the current rules, regulations and academic policies to prevent violence among cadets.

AKSYON DEMOKRATIKO LISTS SAMIRA GUTOC, CARL BALITA IN 2022 SENATE SLATE

MANILA - Former Otso Diretso candidate Samira Gutoc and radio show host Carl Balita have been included in Aksyon Demokratiko's 2022 senatorial slate, ABS-CBN News has learned Monday.

Gutoc and Balita will be nominated for senator during the party's virtual national assembly on Monday afternoon, sources told ABS-CBN News.

Gutoc - a civic leader in Marawi - joined the opposition's Otso Diretso slate in the 2019 midterm elections, but failed to win a seat in the Senate.

Earlier this year, she joined Aksyon Demokratiko as part of the party's National Executive Board.

Balita, on the other hand, is an entrepreneur who heads a group of companies named after him, including the Carl Balita Review Center.

VILLAR HOPES DUTERTE WILL SIGN FARMERS’ CASH ASSISTANCE LAW

MANILA — Citing the urgency of helping farmers due to the crippling effects of the coronavirus pandemic, Sen. Cynthia Villar remains confident President Duterte will sign into law the Cash Assistance to Filipino Rice Farmers Act of 2020 that will benefit over 1.673 million small rice farmers.

Villar, chairperson of the Senate agriculture and food committee, said the Cash Assistance for Filipino Rice Farmers Act of 2020 proposes that any amount in excess of the P10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund collection by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) shall automatically be given as cash assistance to rice farmers tilling two hectares or less of rice land, estimated at 1.673 million as listed in the Registry System of Basic Sectors.

Villar noted that the country’s rice farmers are continuously facing the challenges brought about by the liberalization of rice importation in 2019, the series of destructive typhoons that hit their farms and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“So I strongly believe that our farmers need more support and assistance to cope with the several challenges, especially now that we are in a pandemic, and their health is also at risk,” the senator said.

Toward this end, she said the state shall provide monetary assistance to the hardest hit segments of small farmers in the form of actual cash given to them.

“Any amount we give to our farmers will be a big help to augment their income and improve their poor living condition,” she said.

SARA’S SUPPORTERS DRAW MORE ALLIES IN PANGASINAN

MANILA — The citizens movement that has been trying to convince Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to run for president recently visited the vote-rich province of Pangasinan to draw more supporters.

In a statement, the Hugpong Para Kay Sara announced that over 100 local officials and volunteers participated in a mass oath-taking of the HPS Pangasinan chapter at the WCC Aeronautical and Technological College.

Coming from 44 municipalities and four cities of the province, members of the HPS Pangasinan chapter pledged “allegiance to the movement’s vision to continue the successful programs of President Duterte,” the statement read.

The oath-taking was led by the newly inducted HPS Pangasinan chapter officials: Bayambang Mayor Cezar Quiambao, president; Binalonan Mayor Ramon Guico Jr., vice president for finance; Vici Ventanilla, VP for operations; Von Mark Mendoza, VP for external affairs, and Darwina Sampang, secretary and spokesperson.

Named as the chapter’s board of advisers were Pangasinan Rep. Ramon Guico III, Vice Gov. Mark Lambino, former Alaminos City mayor Arthur Celeste, former congressman Mark Cojuangco and deputy speaker Conrad Estrella III.

The oath-taking was presided by former Davao del Norte governor Anthony del Rosario, who expressed hope that Duterte-Carpio would change her mind and decide to run for president.

THE REST

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DOH LOGS 20,755 NEW COVID-19 CASES, 2 LABS WITHOUT DATA

MANILA — Health authorities reported 20,755 more coronavirus infections on Sunday, bringing the national caseload to 2,490,858.

In its latest bulletin released Sunday afternoon, the DOH reported a positivity rate of 21.9% out of 74,460 tests.

Active cases: 161,447 or 6.5% of the total

Recoveries: 24.391, bringing the number to 2,292,006

Deaths: listed as "N/A", now 37,405 in total

According to the Department of Health, two labs were not able to submit their tallies for Sunday's final count.

SENATORS WORRIED OVER PHARMALLY EXEC’S SAFETY

MANILA — Senators expressed concern yesterday over the safety of Pharmally executive Krizle Mago who has gone incommunicado since giving a damning testimony against her firm during Senate investigative hearings on billions of pesos worth of COVID-19 supply contracts.

“We are concerned for her safety after what she confirmed to us during last Friday’s hearing,” said Sen. Richard Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee, whose staff could no longer reach her after offering her protection that night.

“We offered her protection. After attempts to get her exact location so we could send our Senate sergeant-at-arms, she can no longer be reached,” Gordon said.

During the Senate hearing, Mago had confirmed the exposé of Sen. Risa Hontiveros that face shields delivered to the Department of Health (DOH) had tampered certification labels.

Hontiveros had a video-recorded testimony from a former warehouse worker that Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. owners ordered the tampering of certification labels of old and creased face shields last August to make it appear they were manufactured only this year.

Yesterday, Hontiveros shared Gordon’s worries and said her office is open to provide Mago help and protection. “I pray that she’s safe and ready to cooperate for the truth as well as the welfare of her fellow workers in health care,” she said.

COVID-19 VACCINATION IN METRO MANILA LED TO DECLINE IN CASES: UP PANDEMIC RESPONSE TEAM

MANILA - Wide COVID-19 vaccination in Metro Manila has led to a decline of virus infections in the capital region, a member of the UP Pandemic Response Team said Monday.

There is a decrease in the number of COVID-19 infections based on confirmatory or RT-PCR tests in Metro Manila but cases in other parts of the country continue to rise, according to Jomar Rabajante. These include the Cordilleras, Bicol region, Davao region and Mimaropa, he said.

"Mas bibigyan ko ng weight ang epekto ng ating mga bakuna. Sa NCR, maraming lugar ang nagkaroon na ng mataas na bakuna. Pag nabakunahan ang isang tao, di 100 percent efficacy... pero ang kagandahan nito, mas mababa ang viral load, 'di ka ganun makakahawa. Makikita natin to in the number of cases," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.

The decline in COVID-19 cases contrast with the number of virus patients in intensive care units, he added.

"Nagi-increase ang ating ICU although medyo nagpa-plateau ngayon. Nandun ito sa projections ngayong end of September and simula ng Oktubre," he said.

"Kaya siguro ito ang sinasabi ng mga ospital na overwhelmed pa rin sila kahit nagde-decrease ang mga kaso."

PHIVOLCS: MAGNITUDE 5.7 QUAKE RATTLES PARTS OF LUZON; INTENSITY 3 TO 4 IN NCR

MANILA - A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Looc, Occidental Mindoro early Monday, rattling parts of Metro Manila and Calabarzon, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said.

The tremor caused 112 aftershocks as of 5 a.m., with the strongest measured at magnitude 4.5, according to Phivolcs chief Renato Solidum.

The aftershock was recorded at 1:40 a.m., with Intensity 1 reported in Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro. It had a depth of 65 kilometers.

"Dahil ito ay malalim, itong mga aftershock 'di nagdulot ng pagkaramdam, isa lang na mahina at di naman ito mapanira," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.

Some social media users from different areas in the capital region and Calabarzon reportedly felt the quake lingering for a few minutes.

According to Phivolcs, the quake happened at 1:12 a.m, 23 kilometers northeast of Looc.

It had a depth of 74 kilometers and was tectonic in origin.

Damage and aftershocks are possible, according to Phivolcs.

DAR TO AWARD HOUSES TO 600,000 FARMERS

MANILA — The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) aims to distribute housing units to at least 600,000 agrarian reform beneficiaries before the end of the Duterte administration.

“We will do our best to build as many houses as possible for our farmers before the President’s term ends,” Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones said yesterday during the virtual orientation on the implementation of the government’s housing program.

“This is a very worthy achievement. I pray that we would be able to sustain this because this would greatly help in uplifting the lives of our farmers,” he added, noting that their target for the pilot implementation of the program represents about 20 percent of the three million qualified beneficiaries in the country.

The DAR’s implementation of the program, dubbed “BALAI Farmers and Farmworkers’ Housing Program,” is in partnership with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development. The program will provide farmers with duplex-type housing units with two bedrooms each, covering 36 square meters.

The housing unit, however, will be paid for by farmer-beneficiaries through their cooperatives at P1,475 a month on average, payable in 30 years.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

'HELLO, LOVE, GOODBYE' WINS BIG AT STAR AWARDS FOR MOVIES

MANILA -- Star Cinema's 2019 blockbuster movie "Hello, Love, Goodbye" bagged major awards at the 36th Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) Star Awards for Movies on Sunday.

The film, which stars Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards, won Best Movie of the Year.

The Best Actor Award went to Richards for his performance as Ethan.

Cathy Garcia-Molina won Best Director also for "Hello, Love, Goodbye."

Kapamilya actress Sylvia Sanchez, meanwhile, bagged Best Actress for her performance in the film "Jesusa."

Maricel Laxa won Best Supporting Actress for "Hello, Love, Goodbye," while veteran actor Ricky Davao won Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Fuccbois."

Here are the winners in the 36th PMPC Star Awards for Movies:

Movie of the Year: “Hello, Love, Goodbye” (Star Cinema)

Movie Director of the Year: Cathy Garcia-Molina (Hello, Love, Goodbye)

Indie Movie of the Year: “Mindanao” (Center Stage Productions)

Indie Movie Director of the Year: Brillante Mendoza (Mindanao)

Movie Actor of the Year: Alden Richards (Hello, Love, Goodbye)

Movie Actress of the Year: Sylvia Sanchez (Jesusa)

Movie Supporting Actor of the Year: Ricky Davao (Fuccbois)

Movie Supporting Actress of the Year: Maricel Laxa (Hello, Love, Goodbye)

New Movie Actor of the Year: David Licauco (Because I Love You), tied with Paolo Marcoleta (Guerrero Dos, Tuloy Ang Laban)

New Movie Actress of the Year: Michelle Dee (Because I Love You)

Movie Child Performer of the Year: Xia Vigor (Miracle In Cell No. 7)

Movie Ensemble Acting of the Year: The cast of “Miracle In Cell No. 7” -- headed by Aga Muhlach

Indie Movie Ensemble Acting of the Year: The cast of “John Denver Trending” – headed by Jansen Magpusao

Short Movie of the Year: “Forever” (Adlibs Entertainment Corp., Institute of the Moving Image, Bandido Media Productions)

Short Movie Director of the Year: Domingo Molina (Forever)

SPECIAL AWARDS:

Ms. Angie Ferro– recipient of Nora Aunor Ulirang Artista Lifetime Achievement Award

Director Elwood Perez – recipient of Ulirang Alagad ng Pelikula sa Likod ng Kamera Lifetime Achievement Award

Darling of the Press- Joed Serrano

Movie Love Team of the Year: Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards (Hello, Love Goodbye)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

If modern civilized man had to kill the animals he eats, the number of vegetarians would rise astronomically. – Christian Morgenstern