DUTERTE: I WOULD NOT BE PRESIDENT IF PEOPLE CAN MANIPULATE ME

 

 

 

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte clarified that he was the one who encouraged his former aide Sen. Bong Go to seek the presidency as he vowed to reveal why he could not back the presidential bids of former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. and Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

 

Duterte claimed that Go, who initially sought to run for vice president, had wanted to withdraw his candidacy because Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio decided to seek the same post.

 

Duterte denied that he is being manipulated by people around him and maintained that he is the one providing "guidance" to Go.

 

"Napakakawawa ko naman kung didiktahan lang ako ng isang kasama ko dito sa trabaho. Ako ang magdikta sa kanya, hindi ako nagpapadikta. Ako siguro ang magsasabi sa kanya kung ano ang gawin mo (I would be pitiful if I allow a colleague to dictate on me. I will dictate to him. I won't let him dictate to me. Perhaps I will be the one who will tell him what to do)," Duterte said.

 

"With regard to the claim that I am being manipulated, let's see. I am just asking for a few hours. They will know who is being manipulated. I am not manipulating... I won't be the President of the Philippines if people can manipulate me. I am not crazy. Let's see. I am asking for time. In a few hours, we will know," he added

 

The president claimed that he never vowed to support the candidacies of Marcos or Pacquiao.

 

"You never heard me saying that I would support Marcos. So do not believe the claim that I am allowing myself to be used. I never said that I would support anyone — Marcos or Pacquiao... I just talked to them out of respect and because they wanted to talk to me," Duterte said.

 

However, there had been instances when Malacañang issued statements suggesting that Duterte was open to the idea of Pacquiao and Marcos becoming president.

 

 

 

 

 

LACSON ADMITS KILLING SOMEONE 'IN SELF-DEFENSE, IN LINE OF DUTY'

 

 

 

MANILA - Presidential aspirant Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Monday said he had killed someone in self-defense and in performance of his duty as a law enforcement officer.

 

Lacson, a former chief of the Philippine National Police, however stressed that the Kuratong Baleleng case, which he had been linked to in the past, had been resolved by the courts and he was acquitted despite public opinion against him.

 

"In self-defense and in the performance of our duties as law enforcement officers? Yes," he told ANC's Headstart when asked if he had killed someone. He did not elaborate further.

 

Although he did not specifically mention the case surrounding the death of members of the notorious Kuratong Baleleng Gang, when he was asked about it, Lacson pointed out that this has been resolved by the courts.

 

"Yung Kuratong Baleleng, it passed through separate or different trials. Na-dismiss nang 3 times yan. At least 3 times na-dismiss, pero unfair sa amin because we were drowned in this propaganda war, talagang we were judged. Sa public opinion, guilty na kami. Hindi man lang inisip na meron tayong mga korte na nagde-decide. We were acquitted not only once, not only twice, but three times. But it kept coming back," he said.

 

Lacson was the leader of the Task Force Habagat of the Presidential Anti-Crime Commission when the alleged rubout happened in 1995. The case was resolved with finality in 2013, when the Supreme Court maintained a lower tribunal's decision clearing Lacson and 33 others of murder charges.

 

In the interview, he said it's unfair that when the case is brought up against him in more recent days, the public seem to forget the notoriety of the Kuratong Baleleng Gang when this incident happened.

 

Lacson also agreed that the present situation where police officers are empowered has turned abusive towards the ordinary folk, adding that this became evident in one of their hearings at the Senate Public Order Committee.

 

"We had resource persons who testified na yung inuna ng mga scalawags na pulis, yung mga runners nila before President Duterte took over because they might tell on them," he said.

 

If elected as president, Lacson said he would be iron-fisted "against notorious criminals" but will perform his mandate "in accordance with the rule of law."

 

 

 

 

 

PHILIPPINES STARTS PILOT RUN OF FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES AMID COVID PANDEMIC

 

 

 

MANILA - The Philippines began Monday limited face-to-face classes in select areas with low COVID-19 infection rates after almost two years of school closures.

 

Speaking to ABS-CBN's TeleRadyo, Director Roger Masapol of the Department of Education (DepEd) Planning Service said the first day of face-to-face classes was like "waiting for someone to give birth."

 

“Mixed emotion Jeff, actually, para tayong nag-aabang sa manganganak,” he said.

 

“Excited ang DepEd para sa mga bata sa pagbabalik nila sa school, meron ding kaunting anxiety kasi we don’t know yung mga contingencies, pero excited kami para sa mga kabataan talaga ngayon, and optimistic na magiging matagumpay ang ating pilot para ma-open na natin ang buong, ang lahat ng school natin sa buong Pilipinas,” he added.

 

Masapol said they reduced class sizes in order to help curb the possible spread of the novel coronavirus disease among students.

 

“Pinaliit natin yung class size. Yung kinder ginawa na lang natin 12 na dating 25, yung Grades 1-3 ginawa nating 16 na dating 30,” he said.

 

“And then meron pong 1-2 meters physical distancing yung mga upuan sa loob ng classroom at meron pong mga directional signages na kailangan sundin ng mga kabataan.”

 

Handwashing stations are also set up in schools so students can disinfect as soon as they enter their campuses.

 

Masapol said they expect around 8,000 from Kinder to Grade 3 to return to schools today.

 

“So assuming na pumayag yung lahat ng magulang ng mga kabataang ‘to na nasa Kinder to (Grade) 3, we expect more than 8,000 sa 100 school dito sa K to 3,” he said.

 

Masapol said, meanwhile, that 19 private schools may start limited face-to-face on November 22.

 

“Yung private school Jeff, meron na kaming na-identify na 19. Out of 20 na pinayagan ni Presidente, doon sa mga nagsubmit ng application 19 po yung pumasa,” he said.

 

Federation of Associations of Private Schools and Administrators (FAPSA) president Eleazardo Kasilag, however, said they have apprehensions about resuming face-to-face classes.

 

 

 

 

 

FORMER PNP CHIEF ELEAZAR FILES CANDIDACY FOR SENATOR

 

 

 

MANILA — Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Guillermo Eleazar on Monday filed his candidacy for senator under the Lacson-Sotto’s Partido Reporma, substituting for Paolo Capino.

 

Capino, a radio commentator and PWD advocate, withdrew his Senate bid last week, citing his "slim to none" chances to win.

 

Eleazar, 56, retired as chief of the Philippine national police last week, serving as head of the force for some 6 months.

 

 

 

 

 

NOTHING WRONG WITH PACQUIAO GIVING AWAY CASH BEFORE 2022 CAMPAIGN PERIOD: LACSON

 

 

 

MANILA - Partido Reporma standard bearer Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Monday said presidential contender Sen. Manny Pacquiao should not be castigated for handing out money to the public since the boxer has been doing this for a long time and because the official campaign period has not yet started.

 

The money Pacquiao has been giving away came from his earnings from boxing so the public shouldn’t meddle with that, Lacson told ANC’s Headstart.

 

“Kung ganun ang paraan niya para makiramay sa mga tao, we should appreciate it,” he said.

 

“Ako somehow, a part of me, parang nakikisimpatiya sa kaniya kasi hindi naman infinite yung pera niya (sympathizes with him because his money is not infinite),” he said.

 

Unlike other politicians who only surface during election season, Pacquiao has been sharing his wealth with the poor even before he became a politician, Lacson said.

 

“What’s the difference between Sen. Manny distributing part nung kinita niya sa boxing now at ‘yung binibigay niya years ago?” he said.

 

“Ang mga tao they should see through the gestures bakit namimigay… Dapat maging discerning kung unusual ‘yung ginagawa ng isang kandidato,” he said.

 

But the Partido Reporma chair underscored that it would be a different issue if the world boxing icon would continue handing out money when the official campaign period starts in February.

 

“Kung campaign period namimigay, may vote buying aspect na yun,” he said.

 

Under the law, those who have filed their certificates of candidacies are not considered as official candidates before the official campaign period begins about 3 months before election day.

 

Lacson said he is not in favor of encouraging voters to accept bribes from politicians even if they would vote according to their conscience.

 

 

 

 

 

PH ELECTION CODE MUST BE AMENDED, SAYS LACSON AFTER DUTERTE SUBSTITUTION

 

 

 

MANILA - The Philippines' election code must be amended to remove voluntary substitutions, Senator and presidential candidate Panfilo Lacson said Monday after President Rodrigo Duterte and his daughter sought to run in next year's elections.

 

Lacson said he and his running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III "agreed we should take a serious look in amending the election code."

 

"We need to legislate because of as of now, there's nothing in the law that prohibits Comelec from changing the resolution so naging ganyan ang situation ," he told ANC's Headstart.

 

"Dapat kasama lang in case of death or incapacity, nothing more. Kasi kapag voluntary dun lumalabas ang abuso."

 

The President will run for vice president in next year's elections, according to his long-time aide Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, who will seek the presidency in the 2022 polls.

 

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, meantime, substituted Lakas-CMD “placeholder” bet Lyle Uy as Lakas-CMD's vice presidential bet.

 

"Personally I’m not surprised anymore. You know naman how the father and daughter are in terms of relationship, specifically sa politics," Lacson said.

 

 

 

 

 

PHARMALLY EXECS SEE DAVAO CITY AS ‘SAFE HAVEN’: SENATORS

 

 

 

MANILA - Pharmally officials who have been trying to evade the Senate panel investigating the allegedly anomalous procurement of COVID-19 supplies see Davao City as a “safe haven,” at least 2 senators said Monday, hours after two of the firm’s executives were arrested for trying to flee the country from President Rodrigo Duterte’s hometown and bailiwick.

 

Pharmally officials Mohit and Twinkle Dargani - who were cited in contempt for failing to submit documents subpoenaed by the Senate - were arrested in Davao City late Sunday as they boarded a private plane headed to Malaysia.

 

“They chartered a private plane and were leaving via Davao where they figured they could be safe and make law enforcement officers pause or hesitate to arrest them,” Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chairman Richard Gordon said.

 

“Evasion and flight [are] always interpreted as clear signs of guilt,” he told ABS-CBN News in a text message.

 

Aside from the Dargani siblings, former Presidential Economic Adviser Michael Yang and former Budget Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao have allegedly holed up in Davao City when attending the Senate’s virtual hearings. Lao is a resident of Davao, while Yang stayed in a hotel there.

 

“Davao City may be a common ‘safe haven’ for the likes of Michael Yang, Christopher Lao and well, almost for the Darganis,” Sen. Panfilo Lacson said in a separate text message.

 

“No place on earth is a safe haven. That much I learned from my long years in law enforcement,” said Lacson, a former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP).

 

 

 

 

 

LOW RISK RATING FOR 2 INCUBATION PERIODS COULD LEAD TO ALERT LEVEL 1 CLASSIFICATION: DOH

 

 

 

How soon can the Department of Health recommend a possible de-escalation of coronavirus restrictions in Metro Manila?

 

According to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, the National Capital Region is considered "low risk" for COVID-19 as COVID infections continue to decline in the region while the vaccination rate remains high.

 

She noted that sustaining the low risk rating for 2 incubation periods could lead to further de-escalation of coronavirus restrictions.

 

"Nasa low risk ang NCR. Ang vaccination coverage ay mataas naman po pero meron tayong tinatawag na dapat ma sustain natin 'yung low risk for 2 incubation periods...Patuloy pa rin ang ating evaluation. Kung tutuloy-tuloy ang pagbaba, saka tayo makakapagsabi kung mag de de-escalate tayo further," she said in a TeleRadyo interview.

 

The capital region's 13 million people shifted to Alert 2 from Alert 3 last November 4, allowing more businesses to reopen and easing restrictions on going out.

 

 

 

 

 

THE REST

 

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PHILIPPINES DETECTS 630 MORE DELTA VARIANT CASES

 

 

 

MANILA — Health authorities reported 630 more cases of the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 in the Philippines on Monday from samples collected in past months.

 

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Delta cases accounted for 94.59% of the 666 samples that were sent for whole genome sequencing.

 

In a briefing, she reported that these were collected from March up to this month. DOH has said it is doing retrospective testing to trace the origins of the Delta variant in the country.

 

The agency also reported a lone case of the Alpha, or the variant first detected in the United Kingdom.

 

A breakdown per region on additional Delta cases was not made available, but DOH said it remains the most common variant detected among sequenced samples.

 

Data from Vergeire showed, too, that the Delta now makes up 36.89% or 6,612 of the total 17,925 samples with lineages.

 

Alpha now has 17.46% or 3,129 confirmed cases in the country, while the Beta or that originally detected in South Africa with 19.96% or 3,577 infections.

 

The Philippines has remained at low-risk COVID-19 classification, as well as the National Capital Region.

 

This came after months of hard lockdown that was put in place amid a resurgence in coronavirus cases that went as high as over 26,000 per day.

 

 

 

 

 

BUCOR: 4K INMATES FULLY VACCINATED; 13K PARTIALLY VAXXED VS COVID-19

 

 

 

MANILA — More than 4,000 out of the 48,689 Persons Deprived of Liberty in the seven facilities of the Bureau of Corrections nationwide have completed their doses against COVID-19.

 

As of November 9, BuCor said that 4,173 inmates or 9.68% of the total population in facilities under its management are fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, 13,122 PDLs or 26.95% of the total inmates have received their first dose.

 

It added that nearly 11,000 of the 28,516 Persons Deprived of Liberty or 38.53% of the total inmate population at the New Bilibid Prison are partially vaccinated against COVID-19.

 

At the Bilibid, the country’s national penitentiary, 10,987 inmates received one jab while ten have completed their doses against the coronavirus.

 

Data also showed that 99.51% of the nearly 8,000 PDLs at the Medium Security Compound have received their first dose.

 

 

 

 

 

VAX CARD FEE DEAL ‘PATENTLY ILLEGAL’ – LAWMAKER

 

 

 

MANILA — Hundreds of millions of pesos in fees for vaccination cards might have been collected by a remittance firm with a “patently illegal” contract with the government, a senior administration lawmaker said over the weekend.

 

Rep. Jericho Nograles said money transfer company Pisopay should “refund all fees” it collected from fully vaccinated individuals for purposes of issuing “Quarantine Passports” and the printing of identification cards because it “lacked the requirement to enter into a contract with the government.”

 

“This could amount to hundreds of millions of fees that were collected under an illegal contract,” said Nograles.

 

BOQ Director Ferdinand Salcedo admitted to the panel that they committed a mistake in dealing with Pisopay, but that they already terminated the deal as a preliminary corrective measure.

 

 

 

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

 

 

 

 

 

SHARON CUNETA LEADS SINGING OF 'ANG PROBINSYANO' THEMES ON 'ASAP'

 

 

 

MANILA – Sharon Cuneta led the singing of the “Ang Probinsyano” theme songs on Sunday on 'ASAP Natin To' ahead of her first appearance on the hit TV series as its newest cast member.

 

Along with Gary Valenciano, Ogie Alcasid, Jed Madela and Erik Santos, the screen veteran performed “Huwag Ka Nang Umiyak” and “Ililigtas Ka Niya.”

 

It was last Tuesday when the network announced that Cuneta will be joining “Ang Probinsyano.”

 

In a virtual press conference, Cuneta said it was an easy 'yes' for her when she was offered the role in the country’s longest-running action-drama series that recently marked its sixth anniversary.

 

“Ang dali lang. When Tita Cory sent me a text message, ‘We’d like to offer you a role in Probinsyano,’ yes agad. Nagka-Zoom kami na meeting and Coco pitched the story to me, 'yung character ko. For me, it was a no-brainer. Sino ba naman ang ayaw maging part ng Probinsyano?” she said.

 

“Oo agad. It was so easy for me na in spite of the lockdown, in spite of malalayo ako sa pamilya ko. My family is actually excited to see me on the show, buong household namin, pati mga kasambahay. Sobrang thrilled ako to be part of this,” she added.

 

Another reason why she immediately agreed to join the show is the fact that it was originally the work of Fernando Poe Jr.

 

“FPJ was my best, best friend in the business. I really wanted to be a part of this because Coco has maintained FPJ’s legacy and made it shine even brighter. I am grateful to Coco for that and Tita Susan (Roces) also. This really belongs to FPJ and I am glad that I will be part of it as a tribute to him.”

 

“Ang Probinsyano” airs weeknights on Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5, CineMo, Kapamilya Online Live on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s YouTube channel and Facebook page, iWantTFC, WeTV, and iflix.

 

 

 

 

 

SPORTS

 

 

 

 

 

NBA SCORES NOV 13

 

 

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Heat8-5 27        31        37        16        111

 

Jazz8-5 24        24        21        36        105

 

VIVINT ARENA, SALT LAKE CITY, UT

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            T. Herro MIA

 

27 PTS 8 REB 2 AST

 

            B. Bogdanovic UTA

 

26 PTS 6 REB 3 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Grizzlies6-7       22        22        28        29        101

 

Pelicans2-12     35        27        21        29        112

 

SMOOTHIE KING CENTER, NEW ORLEANS, LA

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            D. Brooks MEM

 

23 PTS 5 REB

 

            N. Alexander-Walker NO

 

21 PTS 3 REB 1 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

76ers8-6           25        35        22        31        113

 

Pacers6-8         32        38        24        24        118

 

GAINBRIDGE FIELDHOUSE, INDIANAPOLIS, IN

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            T. Harris PHI

 

32 PTS 11 REB 3 AST

 

            J. Holiday IND

 

27 PTS 2 REB 1 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Wizards9-3       28        22        32        22        104

 

Magic3-10         18        19        22        33        92

 

AMWAY CENTER, ORLANDO, FL

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            S. Dinwiddie WAS

 

23 PTS 11 REB 6 AST

 

            C. Anthony ORL

 

22 PTS 4 REB 8 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Pistons3-9        31        34        28        34        127

 

Raptors7-7        34        30        31        26        121

 

SCOTIABANK ARENA, TORONTO, ON

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            J. Grant DET

 

24 PTS 5 REB 5 AST

 

            P. Siakam TOR

 

25 PTS 12 REB 7 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Celtics6-7         20        32        22        15        89

 

Cavaliers9-5      9          29        24        29        91

 

ROCKET MORTGAGE FIELDHOUSE, CLEVELAND, OH

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            D. Schroder BOS

 

28 PTS 4 REB 3 AST

 

            D. Garland CLE

 

22 PTS 4 REB 6 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Timberwolves4-8           26        17        28        31        102

 

Clippers8-4       32        38        28        31        129

 

STAPLES CENTER, LOS ANGELES, CA

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            A. Edwards MIN

 

21 PTS 9 REB 3 AST

 

            P. George LAC

 

23 PTS 9 REB 4 AST

 

 

 

 

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

 

 

 

The walls we build around us to keep out the sadness also keep out the joy. - Jim Rohn