DUTERTE URGED TO WITHDRAW THREAT TO END MILITARY ACCORD WITH USMANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte should withdraw his threat to endManila's Visiting Forces Agreement with Washington over the cancellation ofhis former drug war administrator's US visa, a former senator said Tuesday.The VFA, which covers the conduct of American soldiers in the Philippines,is "not a perfect agreement" but Manila needs it, according to former Sen.Francisco Tatad, who sponsored the Senate resolution concurring with theratification of the VFA in 1999."This is part of the security structure that we created in this part of theworld to maintain the peace and stability of nations," he told ANC's EarlyEdition."Kailangan bang itakwil na ni President Duterte? I don’t think so. What willit cost President Duterte to say nagbibiro lang ako. madalas niyang gawinyan diba?"Duterte had threatened to cancel the VFA to protest the US' cancellation ofSen. Ronald "Bato" de la Rosa's visa. De La Rosa was chief of the PhilippineNational Police and was for 2 years at the forefront of the President's waron drugs.If the Philippines pushes through with terminating the agreement, Tatad saidManila would likely be "compelled to partner with Russia and China.""That's the general direction that is indicated. But will the AFP becomfortable with that? Will most Filipinos be comfortable with that?" hesaid.A poll last year found 78 percent of Filipinos believe Manila's ties withWashington are more important compared to Beijing.DUTERTE’S VFA DECISION NOT ON A WHIM – PALACEMANILA — President Duterte’s decision to scrap the Visiting Forces Agreement(VFA) with the United States was not made on a whim, Malacañang insistedyesterday as it claimed that the move was impelled by “a series ofdisrespectful acts” by some American senators.?Duterte has announced a plan to terminate the VFA, a 1998 pact that allowsFilipino and American soldiers to hold joint drills in the Philippines, as aresponse to the cancellation of the US visa of his political ally Sen.Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa.?Dela Rosa, who as national police chief had implemented the administration’sbloody anti-narcotics campaign, has said he would ask Duterte to just letthe issue pass but admitted that the final decision on the VFA lies with thePresident. ?Critics have chided Duterte for his readiness to drop a bilateral defenseagreement because of a personal issue.But presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo claimed that the cancellation ofDela Rosa’s visa was not the only reason behind it. ?“The cancellation ofSenator Bato’s visa was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. It wasan accumulation, a series of disrespectful acts by some of the US senators,”Panelo said at a press briefing.CHINA VIRUS DEATH TOLL PASSES 100 AS US, CANADA ISSUE TRAVEL WARNINGSHANGHAI - The United States warned against travel to China on Monday andCanada issued a more narrow travel warning as the death toll from thespreading coronavirus passed 100, with tens of millions stranded during thebiggest holiday of the year and global markets rattled.Global stocks fell, oil prices hit 3-month lows, and China's yuan dipped toits weakest level in 2020 as investors fretted about damage to the world'ssecond-biggest economy from travel bans and the Lunar New Year holiday,which China extended in a bid to keep people at home.The health commission of China's Hubei province said on Tuesday that 100people had died from the virus as of Jan. 27, according to an onlinestatement, up from the previous toll of 76, with the number of confirmedcases in the province rose to 2,714.Other fatalities have been reported elsewhere in China, including the firstin Beijing, bringing the deal toll to 106 so far, according to the People'sDaily. The state newspaper put the total number of confirmed cases in Chinaat 4,193, though some experts suspect a much higher number.On Monday, US President Donald Trump offered China whatever help it needed,while the State Department said Americans should "reconsider" visiting allof China due to the virus.Canada, which has 2 confirmed cases of the virus and is investigating 19more potential cases, warned its citizens to avoid travel to China's Hubeiprovince, at the heart of the outbreak.FILIPINOS IN CHINA URGED TO GO ON 'SELF-QUARANTINE' TO DODGE CORONAVIRUSMANILA — Filipinos in China are advised to go on "self-quarantine" bystaying indoors and "minimizing" contact with crowds to avoid a new strainof coronavirus, Manila's envoy to Beijing said Tuesday, as officials in thePhilippines discussed evacuation plans.Some "2 or 3 dozen" Filipinos have expressed desire to go home from thecentral Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicenter of the pathogen that has killedsome 81 people, said Philippine Ambassador to China Chito Sta. Romana.If they are repatriated, Filipinos will be in contact with crowds at theairport and face a higher risk of contracting the novel coronavirus, hesaid.The possible evacuation of Filipinos also requires China's permission.Doctors should accompany them on the flight, and they should be quarantinedafter arriving in Manila, he added."Ang ayaw nating mangyari na madala ang virus dito sa Pilipinas ng mga Pinoymismo," Sta. Romana told DZMM."Ang abiso namin sa Filipino community, self-quarantine. Lalo na sa Wuhan,stay in your homes, minimize contact with others... Ito sa ngayon ang safestway," he said.Filipinos in the central Chinese city are advised to wear tight masks,gloves, and boots should they need to go outside, according to public healthexpert Susan Mercado."If you’re in the hot zone, the thing to do is to stay home because we knowthe mode of transmission, you have to be close to another person to get it.So if you're not interacting with anybody how can you get the disease," shetold ANC's Headstart.Wuhan - a normally bustling transport hub that is home to a huge steel andauto industry - hosts some 150 Filipinos, including students, teachers,domestic workers and factory workers, said Sta. Romana.Authorities have yet to receive reports of any Filipino in China who wasinfected with the new coronavirus, said the ambassador.Meanwhile, Filipinos in China who need assistance should contact theConsulate at hotline (+852) 9155 4023, the Department of Foreign Affairsearlier said.DOH CHIEF TELLS PUBLIC TO CURB FALSE INFO ABOUT NEW CORONAVIRUSMANILA - The Philippines' Bureau of Immigration will temporarily stopissuing tourist visas on arrival to Chinese nationals to help ensure thecountry remained free of the new coronavirus, its head said on Tuesday."We are taking this proactive measure to slow down travel, and possibly helpprevent the entry of the 2019-nCov," Jaime Morente, the bureau'scommissioner said in a statement.The virus outbreak, which began in the central Chinese city of Wuhan inDecember, has infected more than 4,000 people in China and killed more than100.Cases have also been confirmed in Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Japan, SouthKorea, Taiwan, Nepal and the United States.Chinese tour groups are the usual applicants for visas on arrival, Morentesaid, as he clarified that there was no ban on the entry of Chinesenationals."We have not received any directive imposing policy changes on Chinesenationals," he said.Filipino authorities said 11 people were being monitored locally forpossible coronavirus infection. All are foreigners of Chinese, German,Brazilian and American nationalities who traveled to Wuhan.ARMING OF BFP SEEN THIS YEARMANILA — President Duterte’s plan to arm members of the Bureau of FireProtection (BFP) will push through this year, Interior Secretary Eduardo Añosaid yesterday.Año said they are looking at around P800 million to P900 million for theacquisition of firearms for BFP personnel.He said he confirmed the plan with the President during a visit to Leytelast week.“The President’s plan to arm the BFP will push through. Let us finalize therequirements and documentations very soon so we can have the availablefund,” he said during the oath-taking of newly appointed BFP director JoseSegundo Embang.Año said they are looking to fast-track the bidding and procurement processthat could see the 29,000-strong BFP armed within the year.He said the BFP could help the Philippine National Police and the ArmedForces of the Philippines (AFP) in ensuring public safety, aside from theirmain responsibility in preventing and suppressing fires.“Of course their main job is suppression of fires and emergency respondersbut it is good to know that our BFP are prepared and they have side armswhenever they perform their missions,” he said.PNP WARNS COMMANDERS: ONE STRIKE, YOU’RE OUTMANILA — A one-strike policy will be imposed on police commanders who failto curb illegal gambling and other criminal activities in theirjurisdiction, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie FranciscoGamboa said yesterday.Gamboa warned police station chiefs and district commanders to shape up orbe sacked from their posts.“The one-strike policy will strictly apply to all commanders who will failto address illegal gambling in their areas of responsibility,” he said.Gamboa said he would include the failure to address crimes against publicmorals in the performance evaluation of police officials.Gamboa has warned police officials that he would impose administrativesanctions if they get involved in illegal activities such as gambling anddrug trafficking.The warning covers all police commanders, Banac said.DUTERTE APPOINTS EX-MILITARY CHIEF MADRIGAL TO PHILCOA BOARDMANILA- President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed former Armed Forces of thePhilippines chief Benjamin Madrigal Jr. as a member of the governing boardof the Philippine Coconut Authority.The retired general was named to the post on Jan. 21 according to a list ofnew presidential appointees released by Malacañang on Tuesday.As a member of the PCA, Madrigal will help develop and implement programsfor the local coconut and palm oil industry.Madrigal headed the military’s Eastern Mindanao Command before he took overas AFP chief of staff in January 2019. He retired from military service inSeptember 2019 and was succeeded by Gen. Noel Clement.SENATE PROBE INTO SEX TRAFFICKING LINKED TO POGO INDUSTRYMANILA — The Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations andGender Equality will hold a hearing on Tuesday morning into prostitutionrings that cater to Philippine Offshore Gambling Operator workers.Sen. Risa Hontiveros, panel chair, called for the hearing through SenateResolution No. 131 to "probe into the existence of prostitution rings in thecountry and to examine the circumstances that push women from vulnerablesectors of society to work under exploitative conditions."Congressional hearings are done in aid of legislation.Hontiveros, in her resolution, noted recent raids on condominium units thathave led to the rescue of trafficked women, most of whom were foreigners."[F]oreigners, particularly Chinese men working in nearby PhilippineOffshore Gambling Operators, were the main clientele of the prostitutionring. The transactionswith the prostitution ring also took place in a Chinese social media app,"she said, adding the trafficked women were "mostly Vietnamese, Chinese, andMalaysian."GOVERNMENT REJECTS METRO PACIFIC OFFER FOR MRT-3 TAKEOVERMANILA — The government has rejected Metro Pacific Investments Corp.(MPIC)’s unsolicited proposal to take over the operations and maintenance ofMetro Rail Transit Line-3 (MRT-3).In a recent interview, MPIC president and CEO Jose Ma. Lim said theDepartment of Transportation (DOT) has returned the proposal to the company.“I think the Department of Transportation has decided to pull it. I don’tknow if they are going to do it themselves or consider bidding it out. Butour original proposal has been returned already,” Lim said.KOBE’S DEATH SENDS SHOCKWAVES THROUGHOUT NBA, WORLDLOS ANGELES -- Kobe Bryant's laserlike focus and sublime skills wereremembered Sunday by NBA colleagues, fans and athletes he inspired as theyabsorbed the shock of his death at the age of 41.Bryant, a five-time NBA champion with the Los Angeles Lakers and two-timeOlympic gold medallist, died in a fiery helicopter crash in suburban LosAngeles that also claimed the life of his 13-year-old daughter Gianna andseven others."We laughed and joked about the Mamba mentality. We're all going to need itright now," an emotional Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers said beforehis team played the Magic in Orlando in one of eight NBA games on the night.Madison Square Garden, home of the New York Knicks, was washed in the Lakerscolors of purple and gold, and so were the pylons that mark the entrance toLos Angeles International Airport.In San Antonio, the Spurs and Toronto Raptors both committed 24-secondshot-clock violations on their opening possessions in honor of Bryant -- whowore No. 24 in the later stages of his career."The NBA family is devastated," NBA commissioner Adam Silver said. "For 20seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends withan absolute devotion to winning."He was one of the most extraordinary players in the history of our game."Six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan said Bryant would be remembered as oneof the game's greatest."Words can't describe the pain I'm feeling," Jordan said. "I loved Kobe – hewas like a little brother to me."That sentiment was echoed by Shaquille O'Neal -- who won three NBA titlesand also famously feuded with Bryant in Los Angeles.The grief was felt beyond the basketball court."The world lost a legend today, but the impact and legacy he leaves behindwill last forever," Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao -- an avidbasketball fan -- tweeted.Brazilian footballer Neymar dedicated his second goal in ParisSaint-German's 2-0 victory at Lille to Bryant, calling his death "deeplysaddening for the world of sport and for all of us -- not just forbasketball fans but for everything he did for sport."Golf superstar Tiger Woods, whose professional career started the same yearas Bryant's, recalled competitive qualities that echo those of Woodshimself."The fire," Woods said of what he most remembered of Bryant. "He burned socompetitively hot. He had such a desire to win. He brought it every night.""Any time he was in the game he would take on their best player and shut himdown for 40 minutes. I think that's one of the best things about him hiswhole career."Woods, no stranger to injury, recalled the time Bryant ruptured an achillestendon -- then stayed in the game to make his free throws.It was just one of myriad signature moments Bryant produced in his career.But for many Sunday's grief for what he might still have achieved in hispost-NBA life."Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would havebeen just as meaningful a second act," former US President Barack Obama,another keen basketball fan, tweeted."His star was continuing to rise every day and he knew no limits because ofhis many intellectual and creative talents and desire to give back to others– his passion for the game, for his family and for others was apparent ineverything he accomplished," former Boston Celtics star Larry Bird said.In Los Angeles, fans gathered to leave tributes near the sight of the crashand outside the Lakers' practice facility miles south in El Segundo.And they gathered outside the Lakers' Staples Center arena, where Bryant'sdeath cast a shadow over the glitzy Grammy Awards."Here we are," Grammys host Alicia Keys said. "Together. On music's biggestnight celebrating the artists that do it best. But to be honest with you,we're all feeling crazy sadness right now. Because earlier today LosAngeles, America and the whole wide world lost a hero."And we're literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryantbuilt."NADINE LUSTRE OFFICIALLY LEAVES VIVAMANILA – Nadine Lustre has officially left Viva Artists Agency, her talentagency for several years.In a statement released Monday, Kapunan & Castillo Law Offices informed thepublic that Lustre is no longer a Viva talent.“Consistent with her rights under the Civil Code of the Philippines,specifically Article 1920, she has decided to terminate her agency contractwith Viva,” the statement read.Article 1920 provides for a mode of extinguishing agency wherein theprincipal may revoke it at will, either expressly or impliedly.Lustre’s lawyers said she is “self-managed and will continue to be soindefinitely.”“She shall directly manage her affairs from now on, and bookings andinquiries may be directly addressed to her,” it said.Lustre has been making headlines recently following her breakup with actorJames Reid, who also left Viva last year.In December, Lustre inked a contract with Reid’s own record label, CarelessMusic Manila, with plans of producing a solo album. Previously, theycollaborated on several tracks, including the hit “Summer.”NBA SCORES JAN 26FINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Rockets 28-17    36    23    30    21    110team logo Nuggets 32-14    27    30    33    27    117SCORING LEADERSR. Westbrook HOU32 PTS, 7 REB, 7 ASTJ. Grant DEN25 PTS, 4 REB, 3 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Raptors 32-14    37    26    23    24    110team logo Spurs 20-25    21    30    34    21    106SCORING LEADERS    P. Siakam TOR35 PTS, 8 REB, 3 AST    D. DeRozan SA14 PTS, 6 REB, 7 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Clippers 33-14    26    28    31    27    112team logo Magic 21-26    28    24    20    25    97SCORING LEADERSK. Leonard LAC31 PTS, 14 REB, 7 ASTM. Carter-Williams ORL15 PTS, 7 REB, 8 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Suns 19-27    18    27    33    31    109team logo Grizzlies 22-24    30    26    25    33    114SCORING LEADERS    D. Booker PHO36 PTS, 2 REB, 5 AST    J. Morant MEM23 PTS, 5 REB, 8 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Celtics 30-15    20    22    39    27    108team logo Pelicans 18-29    32    30    29    32    123SCORING LEADERSK. Walker BOS35 PTS, 5 REB, 4 ASTJ. Holiday NO25 PTS, 6 REB, 5 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Nets 19-26    28    24    24    21    97team logo Knicks 13-34    30    25    30    25    110SCORING LEADERSS. Dinwiddie BKN23 PTS, 4 REB, 5 ASTJ. Randle NY22 PTS, 15 REB, 1 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Wizards 15-30    33    39    30    31    133team logo Hawks 12-35    31    47    41    33    152SCORING LEADERSB. Beal WAS40 PTS, 3 REB, 6 ASTT. Young ATL45 PTS, 6 REB, 14 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Pacers 30-17    27    29    37    36    129team logo Trail Blazers 20-27    36    30    40    33    139SCORING LEADERSJ. Lamb IND28 PTS, 2 REB, 1 ASTD. Lillard POR50 PTS, 6 REB, 13 AST