ROBREDO TO MAKE 'IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT' A DAY BEFORE CANDIDACY FILING CLOSES

MANILA — Vice President Leni Robredo will make an "important announcement" on Oct. 7, a day before the filing of candidacies for the 2022 elections closes, her office said on Tuesday.

Robredo, a vocal critic of some of President Rodrigo Duterte's policies, would likely be the only opposition candidate in a crowded field in the May 2022 elections. Duterte over the weekend declared he was retiring from politics.

Robredo, who has not yet accepted opposition coalition 1Sambayan's nomination as presidential contender, will make her announcement at 11 a.m. Thursday, said her spokesperson Barry Gutierrez.

It comes a day after former Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr., whom she defeated in the 2016 vice presidential race, declared his bid for the presidency in 2022. His camp did not say when he will formally file his candidacy.

MARCOSES TOLD: 'ISAULI NIYO ANG NINAKAW NIYO'

MANILA - The Marcos family's ill-gotten wealth could have been used for government's pandemic response, a former commissioner of the Presidential Commission on Good Government said Wednesday.

Former PCGG commissioner Ruben Carranza made the remark after the son and namesake of dictator Ferdinand Marcos announced he would run for president in next year's elections.

Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos' presidential bid could be an attempt not just to clear the family's name, as his mother was convicted in 2018 for plunder, but to "make sure their family keeps their impunity in place," Carranza said.

"The delay had taken its toll. Can you imagine if that 42 million dollars were available right now in a pandemic? How many vaccines can you buy if you had it recovered already," he told ANC's Headstart.

"These efforts by the Marcos family to prevent the recovery of ill-gotten assets have implications not just on corruption, not just in terms of accountability but on dealing with the consequences of the pandemic, in dealing with life or death situation for Filipinos who struggle to survive. The Marcoses are in many ways responsible for the deaths that have come out in the pandemic."

There was "no question" that the Marcoses committed corruption as the PCGG was created as a fact-finding body to retrieve their ill-gotten wealth, Carranza said.

"Marcos Jr running again is just another way to stop recovery, just another way for them to try to keep the money they took," he said.

COA TO LOOK INTO PHARMALLY-GOV'T DEALS IN SPECIAL AUDIT

MANILA - The Commission on Audit (COA) on Tuesday said the budget department's procurement service (PS-DBM) inventory management regarding COVID-19 supplies and its transactions with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. will be thoroughly screened in their special audit.

COA revealed the development during the continuation of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee's probe into the government's questionable deals with Pharmally.

According to COA Chairman Michael Aguinaldo, the scope of their special audit also includes the common use supplies related to the COVID-19 pandemic that were bought by PS-BDM through its own funds.

"Their funds are sourced from their revolving funds. This is because these items that were procured by PS-DBM really went to their warehouse. Unlike items procured for Department of Health (DOH), the bulk of it were delivered directly either to Office of Civil Defense or the DOH or these various hospitals," Aguinaldo explained.

The revolving funds involve the budget of other agencies which they use for buying common use supplies and equipment.

The goal of the special audit, he added, is to check whether some of these items went to the DOH and the OCD, as well as the items that went to the PS-DBM warehouse.

It is also important to involve the DOH and OCD's auditors for the matter and dig deep, according to Aguinaldo.

HOUSE PASSES UP-DND ACCORD BILL

MANILA — With 179 votes, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a bill that seeks to institutionalize the agreement forged by the University of the Philippines (UP) and the Department of National Defense (DND) in 1989.

Lawmakers overwhelmingly approved House Bill 10171, which aims to institutionalize the controversial accord into UP’s charter, Republic Act 9500, in plenary session on Tuesday.

The measure bans the entry of state forces in any of UP’s campuses nationwide, except in cases of hot pursuit and similar emergencies, when they should still coordinate with campus security.

Once granted, only members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police in proper uniform and with proper identification shall be allowed entry into the campus or the specific college concerned.

State forces can only serve search or arrest warrants after notifying the UP president, chancellor or college dean concerned.

House Deputy Speaker Eddie Villanueva – principal sponsor of the measure – expressed hope that its eventual signing into law would “foster idealism in the country.”

GORDON READY TO FACE COA ON SUBIC FUNDS

MANILA — President Duterte has asked Sen. Richard Gordon to return the P86 million he allegedly pocketed when he was chairman of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) or face criminal charges.

Gordon, chairman of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee which is investigating alleged anomalous purchases of pandemic supplies, said he is ready to face any investigation by the COA.

“I’ll face the COA. You’re hitting me about Subic, I’ll face that. I can answer that,” Gordon said at the resumption of the Senate inquiry into alleged multibillion-peso anomalies in the procurement of COVID-19 supplies by the administration.

“I’ve nothing to be ashamed of because the country progressed and many got jobs when I led Subic,” he said.

He also asked Duterte “not to lie” as the case was COA vs. SBMA and “there’s no Richard Gordon there.”

The P86 million was part of the P140 million in notice of disallowance issued against SBMA by the Commission on Audit (COA), Duterte said Monday night in his regular pre-recorded televised address.

“May I remind COA of their constitutional duty to collect the P140-million notice of disallowance issued against SBMA during Gordon’s time and was stated in the demand letter of SBMA chairperson and administrator Wilma Eisma dated August this year,” he said.

“This has been fully sustained by the Supreme Court as final and executory,” he added. “The P86 million went to his (Gordon’s) own hands. So I want to get (it),” he said.

“That means the P86 million went into your hands, you didn’t spend that much on the government. You used the money or you stole it, return it, that’s personal, not of SBMA,” he said.

Duterte said the money that would be collected from Gordon would go a long way to buy COVID-19 vaccines needed by the Filipino people.

LACSON-SOTTO OPISYAL NANG KANDIDATO SA PAGKAPANGULO, VP SA 2022

MANILA — Naghain na ng kanilang kandidatura sa Commission on Elections para sa 2022 national and local elections sina Sen. Panfilo Lacson at Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, kung saan tatakbo sa posisyon ng presidente ang nauna at bise presidente ang nahuli.

Ika-8 ng Setyembre lang nang pormal na ianunsyo ng tambalan ang kanilang pagtakbo sa susunod na halalan, bagay na kanilang tinotoo sa paghahain nila ng certificates of candidacy (COC) ngayong Miyerkules.

Sila ang ikatlong set ng standard bearers na sabay naghain ng kanilang COC, sunod kina PROMDI party bets na sina Sen. Manny Pacquiao at Rep. Lito Atienza (Buhay Party-list), at Aksyon Demokratiko bets na sina Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso at doktor na si Willie Ong.

DUTERTE CRITICIZED THE ALLEGED ANOMALIES IN THE DPWH BUT CLEARED VILLAR OF ANY INVOLVEMENT IN ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.

MANILA - The Integrated Bar of the Philippines on Tuesday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to reconsider his decision to bar Cabinet members from attending the Senate investigation on the alleged misuse of pandemic funds.

"In view of the brewing conflict between the Executive and the Legislative branches of the government, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines calls for calm, sobriety, and unity among the said two (2) branches of government and its agencies, and for the same to cooperate and work together to combat corruption and abuse," the group said in a statement.

The IBP also called on Duterte to heed a Supreme Court decision which said that although the Executive and the Legislative are co-equal branches of government, the former "cannot frustrate the power of Congress to legislate by refusing to comply with its demands for information."

"We thus urge the President to reconsider his decision to bar his Cabinet from attending the Senate investigation on the alleged irregularities in the Department of Health (DOH) spending related to the COVID-19 pandemic program. It is only by granting our Congress free access to information that we can empower them to formulate policies that fully reflect the will of our people," it added.

Duterte on Monday said he has issued a memorandum to prohibit the members of his Cabinet from attending the Senate investigation as resource persons, adding that they do not have the time for it.

The Philippine Bar Association has also criticized Duterte's decision.

DEPED OKS PILOT TEST OF FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES ON NOV. 15

MANILA — The Department of Education said it would start the pilot test of limited in-person classes on November 15.

At a Senate hearing, Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malalaun said 59 public schools have passed the Department of Health's risk assessment for the pilot test.

He bared the timeline for the pilot implementation, adding that the pilot test would end on January 31, 2022.

A weekly "rolling assessment" will be conducted to increase the number of participating schools to the target 120, he added.

The pilot test of limited in-person classes, which will complement distance learning, will only be conducted in areas deemed low-risk to COVID-19.

DPWH'S MARK VILLAR FILES COC, JOINS SENATE RACE

MANILA — Resigned Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar on Wednesday filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for the Senate in next year's elections.

He will be running as a guest candidate under a faction of the ruling PDP-Laban backed by President Rodrigo Duterte. The poll body has yet to decide whether the Duterte faction or the wing led by Sen. Manny Pacquiao is the legitimate representative of the political party.

PDP-Laban president and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi earlier said Villar is one of 4 members of President Rodrigo Duterte's Cabinet who will run in the 2022 elections.

Mark Villar, 43, is the third member of his family to seek a Senate seat. His mother is incumbent senator Cynthia Villar while his father Manny Villar is a former president of the upper chamber.

The Villar family owns a group of real estate and commercial companies, with an over $7 billion net worth.

Mark Villar served as a congressional representative of Las Piñas from 2010 and was already elected for a third term in 2016. But he resigned from the House of Representatives after he was appointed by Duterte shortly after the 2016 polls to serve as head of the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Tasked to lead the Duterte administration's ambitious "Build Build Build" infrastructure program, the DPWH under Villar has been plagued with alleged anomalies.

Duterte criticized the alleged anomalies in the DPWH but cleared Villar of any involvement in illegal activities.

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PHILIPPINES LOGS 9,055 NEW COVID-19 CASES

MANILA — The Philippines yesterday logged below 10,000 cases of COVID-19 in a single day after almost two months, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

Based on the DOH’s bulletin, there were 9,055 new cases of COVID-19 documented on Oct. 5.

The DOH last recorded a daily tally of COVID-19 cases below the 10,000 mark on Aug. 10, at 8,560.

But according to DOH, the “relatively low case count was due to lower laboratory output last Sunday.”

There was also no death reported due to the technical issue with the DOH’s COVIDKaya.

“The DOH is in constant coordination with the Depatment of Information and Communications Technology to resolve technical issues with COVIDKaya,” the health agency said.

The DOH said molecular laboratories were operational on Oct. 3 while seven testing facilities were not able to submit their data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System.

The DOH is investigating if the downward trend is artificial due to the decrease in outputs of testing facilities as a result of the increased use of antigen test.

P910 MILLION EARMARKED FOR BENEFITS OF TEACHERS

MANILA — Some 900,000 public school teachers will each receive P1,000 incentive without any delay as part of the celebration of World Teachers’ Day, a lawmaker said yesterday.

Makati Rep. Luis Campos Jr. said P910 million has been allotted by the government for the grant of World Teachers’ Day Incentive Benefit (WTDIB).

“The amount was funded in this year’s General Appropriations Act,” Campos said.

“We expect more teachers to receive the benefit next year. In fact, we have earmarked P925 million to pay for the WTDIB in the 2022 national budget,” he added.

Oct. 5 is observed every year as World Teachers’ Day.

LACSON SLAMS ‘GLOBAL COALITION’ IN PNP

MANILA — Sen. Panfilo Lacson expressed concern yesterday over a supposed “global coalition” in the Philippine National Police (PNP) that he said may be used for partisan politics.

Lacson questioned the purpose of the “Global Coalition of Lingkod Bayan Advocacy Support Groups and Force Multipliers,” which was launched last June 25 by the PNP’s Community Relations unit.

“Why do we need global force multiplier when the PNP deals with internal threats? It appears that OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) are the target here,” he asked the PNP during his interpellation of the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s budget for 2022. The police force is under the DILG’s supervision.

“I’ll be blunt. This looks like a tool for politicking by the PNP’s community relations arm,” he said.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

RIA ATAYDE LAUGHS OFF RUMORS LINKING HER TO JOSHUA GARCIA

MANILA -- Actress Ria Atayde simply laughed off rumors romantically linking her with actor Joshua Garcia.

In an interview with Cinema One's "Pop Cinema," Atayde stressed that she and Garcia are just friends.

Rumors linking Atayde and Garcia surfaced after their "barkada" photo was uploaded online. The two were assumed to be together because they were with couples Daniel Padilla and Kathryn Bernardo and Sofia Andres and Daniel Miranda.

"We laughed about it. It's actually like something, 'uy rumored boyfriend halika rito.' Like, I mean, we are friends," Atayde said.

Atayde explained that she became close with Garcia because he worked with her mother Sylvia Sanchez in the 2016 series "The Greatest Love."

She also added that Garcia has started to play golf with her guy friends.

"I am super super comfortable with him. Because nga he is my mom's grandson in 'The Greatest Love' and because of that he actually celebrated Christmas with us that year and we're close. Like we just don't post about each other or anything. Pero 'yun nga we're close because of that," Atayde said.

"Things got busy pero we always keep in touch throughout the years. Then kasi we are also working together on 'Viral' so you know lot of reasons to hang out. And he also just recently started playing golf with the boys of my friend group. Now he is part of it as well. So it's really just that."

Atayde noted that this is not the first time she has been teased to someone.

"You know I've been teased with Dominic Roque and Marco Gumabao. So I guess whoever is single naman nilalagay nila sa akin. Regardless kung sino, gets ko naman guys. Single nga, gets na gets," Atayde said.

SPORTS

JAMES YAP NOT YET RETIRING DESPITE LAUNCHING POLITICAL CAREER

MANILA -- Rain or Shine guard James Yap is not yet planning on hanging up his shoes, even after officially filing his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Tuesday for a seat in the council of San Juan City's first district.

Yap is running under the ticket of incumbent Mayor Francis Zamora, who is seeking re-election. Former professional players Don Allado and Paul Artadi are also part of Zamora's line-up for city councilors, as well as former basketball players Ervic Vijandre and Macky Mathay.

This will be Yap's first foray into politics, having made his name as a superstar in the PBA where he has won seven championships and two Most Valuable Player trophies.

"Nagpaalam ako sa PBA kung puwede ako tumakbo, sa management ng Rain or Shine. Sinabi naman nila, puwede," said Yap. "Ano raw plano ko, kung magre-retire na ba ako?"

"Ang sabi ko naman, pwede bang kung papalarin ako, habang councilor ako sa San Juan, pwede ba akong maglaro sa PBA? Ang sabi naman nila pwede raw," he added.

"Siguro one more year sa PBA," Yap also said.

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed to ABS-CBN News that Yap sought clearance from the league and his mother club if he could run for public office. According to Marcial, nothing in the PBA bylaws bar Yap from doing so.

"Parang si Coach Yeng (Guiao), 'di ba," said Marcial of the NLEX coach who has held several positions in local government and was elected as congressman in 2013.

"Suportado natin (si James), suportado ng team niya, suportado ng PBA. I wish him all the luck, sana maging konsehal nga siya at makatulong," the commissioner added.

Yap, 39, plans to focus on sports programs for the youth should he win a council seat.

"Gusto kong makapagbigay ng inspirasyon sa mga bata, especially sa mga gustong maging athlete. Dahil ‘yung karanasan ko bilang isang atleta, sa tagal ko sa PBA, baka makapag-share ako sa kanila," said Yap.

"Kasi kailangan din talaga ng guidance. Sa experience ko kasi, kung walang nag-guide sa akin, baka hindi ko marating kung nasaan ako ngayon," he added.

"Wala naman talagang experience. Pero 'yung experience ko bilang isang public figure, 'yung may lalapit sa 'yo na humihingi ng tulong, tinutulungan din naman natin, kahit wala tayo dito ngayon. Ito na 'yung chance ko na makatulong ng tapat, kumbaga naka-focus ka rin talaga sa pagtulong," said Yap.

Marcial is optimistic that despite Yap's lack of political experience, his journey as a basketball player will be of great help to him, should he be successful.

"Madami na tayong basketball player na naging politiko eh. Si Senator (Sonny) Jaworski, si Mayor Zamora, 'yan nga, ang dami pang iba na naging konsehal, 'yung iba naging vice mayor," he noted.

"So, makakatulong 'yan kasi one, sa interaction mo with your teammates, interaction mo with the fans. Nakikita mo rin eh, makikita mo 'yung mga nagagawa din natin na mga CSR, andoon din sila. Malaking bagay 'yun, at makikita mo naman talaga kung ano eh, 'yung saloobin nila na makakatulong," he added.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The history of the race, and each individual's experience, are thick with evidence that a truth is not hard to kill and that a lie told well is immortal. - Mark Twain