EU SIDES WITH PHILIPPINES OVER SOUTH CHINA SEA WATER CANNON INCIDENT

 

 

 

The European Union has become the latest to voice opposition to the firing of Chinese water cannon at supply boats from the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea, as the incident draws mounting criticism against Beijing.

 

“Last week, coastguard vessels of the People’s Republic of China blocked two Philippine supply boats on their way to Second Thomas Shoal, 105 nautical miles west of the province of Palawan (Philippines) in the South China Sea, and used water cannons against them. This episode follows other unilateral actions by vessels of the People’s Republic of China in the South China Sea over the past months,” the EU said in a statement published on Sunday.

 

“The European Union reiterates its strong opposition to any unilateral actions that endanger peace, security and stability in the region and the international rules-based order.”

 

The Chinese diplomatic delegation to the EU hit back, saying the bloc’s remarks would only create a negative impact on regional peace and stability.

 

The EU statement followed Washington’s condemnation on Friday, which called the Chinese moves “dangerous, provocative, and unjustified” and warned that an armed attack on Philippine vessels would invoke US mutual defence commitments. Ambassadors from Australia, Japan, Germany and France in the Philippines also issued short statements supporting Manila.

 

Beijing has been pushing for progress on the established of a non-binding code of conduct in the South China Sea, after continuing conflicts with other claimants to the disputed waterway, which include Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan.

 

Addressing Asean leaders at a virtual summit on Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “joint efforts” to safeguard stability in the South China Sea and “make it a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation”.

 

The gathering marked the 30th anniversary of ties between Beijing and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

 

Meanwhile, the Makabayan bloc is urging the House of Representatives to investigate and condemn the Chinese Coast Guard’s blocking and water cannon attack against Filipino supply boats heading to Ayungin (Second Thomas) Shoal.

 

“It is the duty of Congress to ensure that our territorial integrity is intact, local and international laws be honored and recognized, and more importantly, the safety and economic rights of our people are protected and ensured,” the six-member group said in House Resolution No. 2370.

 

They added, “It is also the duty of Congress and all patriotic Filipinos to defend our territories from foreign dominance and intrusion.”

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE OKS ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF 2021 BUDGET

 

 

 

MANILA — The House of Representatives yesterday approved the measure that would extend the validity of this year’s P4.5-trillion national budget for one year.

 

Congressmen decided to pass on second reading House Bill No. 10373, which seeks to extend the availability of the 2021 national appropriations from Dec. 31, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2022.

 

The bill, authored by appropriations committee chair Eric Yap, specifically proposes to amend Section 62 of General Provisions of Republic Act 11518 or the General Appropriations Act of Fiscal Year 2021.

 

Yap explained that the measure is necessary “to allow the agencies to fully utilize the allocated budget for 2021 to implement government programs and projects and to ensure that the intended beneficiaries of these basic services are reached.”

 

With its approval in the committee level, HB 10373 will now be submitted to the plenary for deliberation and approval.

 

 

 

 

 

WHY IS COCAINE-USING CANDIDATE STILL FREE? DUTERTE SAYS 'THE RICH TAKE DRUGS ON YACHTS, IN THE AIR'

 

 

 

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday brought up wealthy people's lifestyle as he addressed concerns on why a presidential contender he accused of using an addictive stimulant drug gets off scot-free.

 

Duterte last week claimed that a wealthy presidential aspirant, whom he described as a "weak leader", supposedly uses cocaine. The Philippine National Police on Monday said it was investigating the President's allegation.

 

"Totoo ‘yan, there’s a candidate who was using cocaine. And you can ask ‘yong mga mayaman," Duterte said in a speech when he inspected airport and seaport improvements in General Santos City.

 

"Sabihin ng pulis, ‘Bakit hindi natin hinuli, bakit hindi mo hinuli, Presidente?’ Hindi mo alam ang mga mayaman. They go on a yacht, yate, or in the air, doon sila magsupsop ng ano nila," he continued.

 

"If you do not believe it, well, leave it that way. Basta, sinabi ko. Let it not be said later on that I did not tell you," he said. "Alam mo ang tao, kailangan may kaunting disiplina. May kagaguhan man kami, ako mismo, pero may limit ako, may boundary ako. I do not cross it."

 

Malacañang earlier denied that Duterte's claim against the presidential candidate showed his anti-narcotics campaign was anti-poor and does not go after the wealthy.

 

"Wala po tayong sinasanto dito, walang pinipiling social rank o status," Duterte’s acting spokesman Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said of the drug crackdown.

 

"Lahat po ‘yan, basta sangkot sa droga ay kakasuhan natin, huhulihin natin, ipo-prosecute po natin," he said in a press briefing.

 

 

 

 

 

'CONTRARY TO LAW': COMELEC ASKED TO REJECT MARCOS REPLY, SET ASIDE EXTENSION

 

 

 

MANILA — The extension granted to presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. to answer the case lodged against him before the Commission on Elections (Comelec) should be revoked, a group of petitioners said in a motion filed Friday, calling the order by the poll body's second division "blatantly contrary to law."

 

The Comelec second division on Nov. 18 granted an unprecedented extension to the Marcos camp to answer the petition filed by civic leaders led by Christian Buenafe seeking to cancel his certificate of candidacy (COC).

 

But according to the petitioners represented by lawyer Ted Te, the extension should not have been granted in the first place.

 

"First, Sec. 4 (6) of Rule 23 of the Comelec Rules of Procedure, as amended by Comelec Resolution No. 9523 provides for no ground for any extension of time. It provides for no leeway and no discretion," they said.

 

To the petitioners' view, the "extension" was actually a "new period" considering there was nothing to extend when the second division's order was handed down.

 

The "non-extendible" 5-day deadline for the Marcos camp to answer the petition lapsed on Nov. 16 or 2 days before their motion for extension was granted.

 

Petitioners stressed that Marcos' failure to file his answer within the said period is effectively a waiver on his right to respond.

 

"The failure of the respondent to file his verified answer within the reglementary period shall bar the respondent from submitting controverting evidence or filing his memorandum," the petitioners' motion stated.

 

By asking to revoke the extension, the petitioner effectively wants to bar Marcos camp from "submitting controverting evidence and from filing

 

his memorandum pursuant to its Rules of Procedure."

 

However, the Marcos camp already filed its verified answer on the same day the motion for reconsideration against the extension was filed.

 

 

 

 

 

COVID-19 PILL MOLNUPIRAVIR AVAILABLE TO ROBREDO OFFICE'S TELECONSULTATION PATIENTS

 

 

 

MANILA — Experimental COVID-19 pill Molnupiravir will be available to patients of the telemedicine program of Vice President Leni Robredo's office, it said on Tuesday.

 

The Office of the Vice President said it signed a memorandum of agreement with QualiMed Health Network on Monday to provide assistance for referred patients prescribed with Molnupiravir, an oral pill for the treatment of mild to moderate cases of COVID-19.

 

Under the agreement, the OVP will issue a guarantee letter under its special medical assistance program to any qualified patient referred by a volunteer doctor in the OVP's Bayanihan E-Konsulta. The patient will be further assessed and prescribed Molnupiravir by QualiMed facilities.

 

"We are truly humbled and grateful to the QualiMed Health Network for trusting us with this partnership, helping us extend our reach in delivering aid to more of our kababayans in need," Robredo said on Facebook on Monday.

 

The Food and Drug Administration has issued a compassionate special permit (CSP) for the use of Molnupiravir, developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, to several hospitals.

 

These hospitals include QualiMed facilities like those in San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan and the PGH Compound in Manila.

 

The first shipment of Molnupiravir arrived in the Philippines last Wednesday. This is also the first delivery of the pill in Southeast Asia.

 

 

 

 

 

VP LENI TO ONLINE DELIVERY SCAMMERS: HUWAG NG MAG ISIP NG MGA PANLOLOKO

 

 

 

MANILA - Vice President Leni Robredo appealed to online scammers who victimized delivery riders Monday by placing orders worth more than P100,000 for delivery to the Office of the Vice President.

 

On Facebook, VP Leni narrated that she was in meetings in her office when three delivery riders arrived with the goods under her name on a cash on delivery basis.

 

“Baka akala ng scammers 'yung burden nasa amin. Hindi iniisip na kinakawawa nila 'yung riders saka 'yung mga shoppers nila na nabiktima. Umuulan pa naman kahapon and nabasa sila,” Robredo said.

 

The Vice President also thanked delivery app Metromart as well as the three merchants for facilitating the return of the goods.

 

In an official statement by Metromart posted by Robredo on Facebook, the company said it has increased its security and fraud detection measures as it is also cooperating with the OVP in its investigation.

 

“We are calling the public not to scam, prank and waste the time of our delivery riders and shoppers who are working hard to support their families and are risking their lives to safely deliver groceries to Filipino homes during this pandemic,” Metromart said.

 

In a statement Monday, OVP spokesperson Atty. Barry Gutierrez said that they are investigating the matter further after getting the number used to book the deliveries.

 

“VP Leni gave the riders something to compensate them for the two hours they lost because of this scam,” Gutierrez said.

 

 

 

 

 

18 PRIVATE SCHOOLS START FACE-TO-FACE CLASS PILOT IMPLEMENTATION

 

 

 

MANILA — Some 18 private schools started the rollout of face-to-face classes under the Department of Education (DepEd)’s effort to pilot the implementation of a gradual return to classroom learning.

 

The number of private schools that rolled out face-to-face classes was less two schools Singapore School Clark and Xavier University Senior High School – that were in the original list of 20 private schools joining the pilot among private sector institutions.

 

Joyce Andaya, DepEd Bureau of Curriculum Development director who led the inspection of face-to-face classes yesterday, said the two schools had deferred due to their different academic calendar.

 

Andaya praised the participating private schools for their apparent readiness to start the pilot of face-to-face classes.

 

“I’ve seen the readiness of our schools and the cooperation between schools and their local governments to undertake these pilot test of face-to-face classes,” Andaya said in a statement in Filipino.

 

 

 

 

 

‘PHILIPPINES RANKS LOWEST ON COVID-19 DEATHS AMONG SELECT COUNTRIES’

 

 

 

MANILA — The Philippines has the lowest number of deaths from COVID-19 compared to eight other mostly wealthy countries that have the highest number of cases, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said yesterday.

 

Citing the “Our World In Data” report, Duque noted the Philippines ranked lowest for mortality related to COVID-19 compared to the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Italy, United Kingdom, Spain, France and Germany.

 

The data compared the number of deaths from Jan. 5, 2020 up to March 31, 2021.

 

According to Duque, the Philippines’ low mortality could be attributed to the country’s COVID-19 response.

 

“A much improved prevent, detect, isolate, treat, reintegrate and lately, improving vaccination rate especially in the National Capital Region… Also, the early detection to isolation efforts of our local government units contribute to the low morbidity,” he told The STAR.

 

 

 

 

 

HOLCIM PHILIPPINES LAUNCHES 'GREEN CEMENT' WITH 30 PCT LOWER CARBON FOOTPRINT

 

 

 

MANILA— Holcim Philippines said Tuesday the Philippines will be among the first markets where its new green cement will be available.

 

In a statement, the company said it would launch a range of environment-friendly green cement with more than 30 percent lower carbon footprint.

 

Holcim ECOPlanet will have "equal to superior" construction performance but will also help lower the carbon footprint of buildings, it said.

 

Holcim Philippines is seeking an Environmental Product Declaration in the next few months from an independent third-party reviewer, it said.

 

"Winning with purpose requires delivering our customer promise while also caring for the planet. We see a growing interest in building greener structures in the Philippines," Holcim Philippines president and CEO Horia Adrian.

 

Holcim Philippines said it earlier launched other sustainable solutions that use less natural resources. The group also said it signed an agreement to build solar plants in some of its facilities.

 

It operates cement manufacturing facilities in La Union, Bulacan, Batangas, Misamis Oriental and Davao.

 

 

 

 

 

GOOD WEATHER SEEN IN NEXT 3 DAYS

 

 

 

MANILA — The entire country will experience good weather with isolated light rains due to thunderstorms in the next three days.

 

No low-pressure area was spotted in and out the Philippine area of responsibility, state weather forecasters said in an advisory issued yesterday.

 

Apayao, Batanes, Cagayan and Ilocos Norte would have good weather with isolated light rain, while the rest of Luzon including Metro Manila will have isolated rain.

 

 

 

 

 

THE REST

 

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PHILIPPINES RECORDS 984 FRESH COVID-19 CASES

 

 

 

MANILA - The Philippines on Monday announced 984 fresh COVID-19 cases, the second time in the last seven days that the daily tally fell below 1,000, data from the health department showed.

 

Of the 2,826,853 total recorded cases, 19,798 or 0.7 percent were active infections, according to the latest Department of Health (DOH) bulletin.

 

The number of new cases is the lowest in 6 days or since Nov. 16 when 844 were reported, the ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group said.

 

It also noted that the last time the country's active cases counted fewer than 20,000 was on Jan. 10 this year. Monday's tally of active infections is the fourth lowest this year, after 19,304 were recorded last Jan. 4.

 

COVID-related deaths increased by 218 to 47,288, while 2,229 more recoveries were reported, raising the total number of recuperations to 2,759,767.

 

 

 

 

 

300 PAMILYA NASUNUGAN SA QC

 

 

 

MAYNILA—Higit 300 pamilya ang nagpalipas ng gabi sa mga tent o evacuation center matapos masunog ang kanilang mga bahay sa Barangay Manresa, Quezon City nitong Lunes.

 

Tinatayang nasa halos 120 na bahay ang natupok.

 

Bukod pa sa walang naisalba ang mga nabiktima ng sunog, pahirapan din ngayon ang kanilang sitwasyon sa mga evacuation center.

 

Ang iba ay sa gilid ng kalsada nagtayo ng tent at nakatira, kagaya ni Lily Rose Carbales, na 9 na buwan nang buntis.

 

HIndi niya alam papaano niya bubuhayin ang kaniyang sanggol lalo na't dito lang sila sa bangketa nakatira ngayon.

 

Problemado rin si Joy Salupan kung saan sila titira ng kaniyang 6 na kamag-anak.

 

Ito na ang pangalawang beses na nasunog ang nasabing residential area.

 

Ayon sa Bureau of Fire Protection, nag-umpisa ang sunog sa bahay ng isang ginang. Walang namatay sa insidente.

 

Nasa 55 pamilya ang kasalukuyang nasa Sergio Osmeña Elementary School. May iba ang nasa covered court habang iyong iba ay sa kalsada malapit sa Araneta Avenue nagpalipas ng gabi.

 

Nanawagan silang lahat na sana matulungan sila na magkaroon muli ng panibagong matitirhan o anumang ayuda para sila'y makapagumpisang muli.

 

 

 

 

 

ILANG LUGAR SA PAMPANGA SINALAKAY NG RICE BLACK BUG

 

 

 

PAMPANGA—Naitala sa ilang lugar sa lalawigan ng Pampanga ang pananalasa ng rice black bug.

 

Matapos manalasa sa Cabanatuan City sa Nueva Ecija at sa Asingan, Pangasinan, nakitaan na rin ang ilang lugar sa Pampanga ng mga rice black bug.

 

Ayon sa Department of Agriculture, apektado na ang ilang bahahi ng San Jose Malino sa bayan ng Mexico, ilang bahagi ng Arayat at ilang bahagi ng bayan ng Sta. Ana.

 

Paglilinaw ni Trojane Soberano, science research specialist ng DA, incidence lang at hindi pa outbreak ang dating ng mga RBB.

 

Bukod sa pamemeste ng palay, mabaho ang amoy ng mga ito kapag nadapuan at delikado kapag nagkalat sa daan.

 

Kasalukuyang nagsasagawa ng mga hakbang ang DA upang maiwasan ang pagkalat ng mga peste. Pinayuhan na rin ang mga magsasaka at residente ng mga lugar na apektado ng RBB na gumamit ng light trapping equipment.

 

 

 

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

 

 

 

 

 

IG-OFFICIAL? NADINE LUSTRE TAGS RUMORED BOYFRIEND IN PHOTO

 

 

 

MANILA — Actress-singer Nadine Lustre appears to be slowly opening up about her new romance, as she posted for the first time on Monday a photo of her rumored boyfriend.

 

On Instagram, Lustre shared photos of the full moon, taken from the beach. One of the snaps had a man’s silhouette in the foreground.

 

She tagged the man as Christophe Bariou, who has been rumored to be her current flame in recent months.

 

As the post marked the first time Lustre directly mentioned Bariou on social media, her followers took it as an introduction of sorts to her supposed new beau.

 

Lustre previously shared a clip of Bariou through Instagram Stories in early November. Around the same time, Lustre’s father Ulysses posted on Facebook photos showing Bariou with their family in Siargao.

 

The photos were taken at Maison Bukana Resort, which is reportedly owned by Bariou.

 

To date, Lustre has yet to confirm being officially in a relationship anew, nearly two years after she and her former reel and real-life partner James Reid parted ways.

 

 

 

 

 

SPORTS

 

 

 

 

 

NBA SCORES NOV 21

 

 

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Mavericks9-7    22        25        15        29        91

 

Clippers10-7     19        27        25        26        97

 

STAPLES CENTER, LOS ANGELES, CA

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            K. Porzingis DAL

 

25 PTS 8 REB 2 AST

 

            P. George LAC

 

29 PTS 4 REB 6 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Lakers9-9         30        31        23        37        121

 

Pistons4-12       26        42        31        17        116

 

LITTLE CAESARS ARENA, DETROIT, MI

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

A. Davis LAL

 

30 PTS 10 REB 6 AST

 

J. Grant DET

 

36 PTS 4 REB 3 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Nuggets9-8       28        32        18        19        97

 

Suns13-3          48        25        27        26        126

 

FOOTPRINT CENTER, PHOENIX, AZ

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

J. Green DEN

 

19 PTS 3 REBC. Johnson PHO

 

22 PTS 1 REB 2 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Knicks9-8          20        25        29        29        103

 

Bulls12-5          25        26        21        37        109

 

UNITED CENTER, CHICAGO, IL

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            J. Randle NY

 

34 PTS 10 REB 3 AST

 

            D. DeRozan CHI

 

31 PTS 6 REB 5 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Raptors8-10      24        23        30        27        104

 

Warriors15-2     36        25        31        27        119

 

CHASE CENTER, SAN FRANCISCO, CA

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            P. Siakam TOR

 

21 PTS 6 REB 2 AST

 

            J. Poole GS

 

33 PTS 4 REB 4 AST

 

 

 

 

 

INDICATORS

 

 

 

FOREX $1 = P 50.65

 

 

 

 

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

 

 

 

Respect your efforts, respect yourself. Self-respect leads to self-discipline. When you have both firmly under your belt, that's real power. - Clint Eastwood