DUTERTE IGNORES SENATE PROBE REPORT ON PHARMALLY

 

 

 

MANILA — President Duterte has brushed aside the recommendations of the Senate Blue Ribbon committee on the government’s allegedly overpriced COVID-19 supply contracts, but maintained that his administration would not do anything that would jeopardize the trust of the people.

 

The Senate panel, which looked into the administration’s pandemic supply deals with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp., recommended the filing of charges against Duterte after he steps down from office, for defending officials involved in what it called a “horrible crime” against the public.

 

A partial report released by the Blue Ribbon committee chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon accused Duterte of betraying public trust and of tolerating the supposed misdeeds of his associates and appointees.

 

Duterte, who had accused senators of using the pandemic supply deals to gain publicity, was calm when he brought up the controversy during his public address on Monday.

 

Unlike his previous speeches, where he attacked Gordon and other senators who scrutinized the transactions, the President said he would not waste the time of Filipinos reacting to the Senate panel’s recommendation.

 

“There will be a time when we will discuss the Blue Ribbon committee report. But you’re right, you ignore it because it’s really nothing. Well, there will be a time to answer them fully and concisely but it is not now,” he said.

 

Duterte said he could have pocketed state funds when he was still a mayor if he was really corrupt.

 

 

 

 

 

ADB APPROVES $2 MILLION GRANT FOR GOVERNMENT'S TYPHOON ODETTE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

 

 

 

MANILA — Multilateral lender Asian Development Bank (ADB) just approved a $2 million grant to support the Philippine government's emergency response to Typhoon Odette (international name Rai), which brought destruction to central and southern provinces in December last year.

 

The grant, which will come from the ADB's Asia Pacific Disaster Response Fund, seeks to provide humanitarian assistance in 15,000 households, or roughly 75,000 people affected by the typhoon — in the form of food vouchers, and logistics support for food delivery and assistance.

 

ADB will be teaming up with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to deliver the food assistance to the communities.

 

"This assistance will help finance the humanitarian needs of those residents, especially people living in remote areas," ADB Director General for Southeast Asia Ramesh Subramaniam said in a statement posted on the bank's website.

 

 

 

 

 

MARCOS TO SHUN DEBATES, FORUMS THAT PIT CANDIDATES AGAINST EACH OTHER: SPOKESPERSON

 

 

 

MANILA - Presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. will not join any presidential debate or forum if the aim of the events is to pit candidates against one another, his spokesman said Wednesday.

 

Speaking to ANC's Headstart, spokesperson Vic Rodriguez said Filipinos are tired of seeing candidates fight each other, and there were bigger issues facing the country like joblessness.

 

"Pagod na ang tao sa awayan. Ngayon, kung tayo maglalagay lang ng forum para mag-enjoy at makita nag-aaway sila 1,2,3,4,5 candidates, hindi po kami sasali riyan," Rodriguez said.

 

The spokesman added that though presidential candidates like Marcos were "applying" for the country's highest office, it did not mean that he should be fighting those who would become his bosses.

 

"Let your bosses or the management choose among the best, and let them decide. Hindi yung makikpag-talo tayo sa management or sa kapwa nating aplikante," Rodriguez said.

 

The statement came after Marcos did not appear at the Presidential Candidates' Forum organized by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) due to a conflict in schedule.

 

But Marcos has appeared in other interviews such as the "Bakit Ikaw? The DZRH Presidential Job Interview", a one-on-one interview with celebrity talk-show host Boy Abunda, and another interview with veteran broadcaster Korina Sanchez.

 

At least one political analyst has said that Marcos appeared to be following a strategy of "less talk, less mistakes", which was also similar to the strategy of former president Joseph "Erap" Estrada.

 

 

 

 

 

PACQUIAO WILLING TO JOIN ALL DEBATES, FORA: CAMPAIGN MANAGER

 

 

 

MANILA - Presidential aspirant Senator Manny Pacquiao will attend all fora and interviews for the upcoming elections, his campaign manager said Wednesday.

 

Pacquiao on Tuesday formally launched his campaign in his hometown General Santos City, where "all his ambition started," said Buddy Zamora.

 

"Senator Pacquiao is prepared to face any kind of debate or interview. We’re not one to choose. We want to join all. I can say this for Senator Pacquiao, he’s willing to show himself to the public and wiling to defend whatever ideals he has espoused during this campaign," he told ANC's Headstart.

 

When asked about former senator Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos' non-attendance in fora and interviews, Zamora said, "For all intents and purposes, the way things are going, he has already won the elections."

 

"He goes with the tenet 'less talk, less mistake.' To his mind it would be an advantage to him to lessen public exposure since his ratings are so high already," he said.

 

Pacquiao's camp is "quite comfortable" in his position in the surveys," Zamora said.

 

"Usually number 1 at this time for candidates is a precarious position because there’s no place to go but down. In our case we’re somewhere around 3 or 4, there’s no way to go but up," he said.

 

The boxer-politician's camp will begin spending on TV ads following the start of the campaign period, Zamora added.

 

 

 

 

 

PRO-DUTERTE GROUP PUSHING 'REVOLUTIONARY GOVERNMENT' BACKS ISKO MORENO

 

 

 

MANILA — John Castriciones — senatorial candidate and former agrarian reform secretary — and his nationwide volunteer group supporting the Duterte administration have thrown their weight behind Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno, Aksyon Demokratiko standard-bearer.

 

The Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte National Executive Coordinating Council was in the news earlier in the coronavirus pandemic for a mass gathering it held calling for the establishment of a revolutionary government under Duterte.

 

It is unclear if the pro-Duterte group plans to change its name considering Duterte's own daughter is the running mate of another presidential candidate in Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

 

Castricciones is a candidate under one wing of the administration PDP-Laban, which initially fielded Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa as its presidential bet. A string of withdrawals and substitutions has seen the ruling party with no presidential bet of its own and its senatorial candidates on different slates.

 

Will the backing of the Duterte supporters affect the chances of Moreno, also a mayor-turned-presidential candidate, in any way? Political analyst Dindo Manhit is not so convinced.

 

"At the end of the day, if people see that the Duterte name is attached to Bongbong Marcos, which is what's happening now, do you think it matters if members of the Cabinet [back him?]" he told Philstar.com in an interview.

 

 

 

 

 

AWAY FROM HOME TOWNS, MARCOS-DUTERTE KICKS OFF GRAND 'UNITEAM' CAMPAIGN AT GIANT ARENA

 

 

 

MANILA — Survey frontrunners Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio held their proclamation rally in front of thousands of Filipinos at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on Tuesday.

 

The event, a pre-ticketed program and livestreamed on Facebook page of Uniteam BBM-Sara, drew thousands of supporters to the arena in Bulacan province, despite the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Lawyer Vic Rodriguez, Marcos’ spokesperson, said ahead of the proclamation rally that the campaign picked Philippine Arena because of its capacity to seat thousands of their supporters.

 

Candidates have either chosen their hometowns or started caravans from their residences. The UniTeam said: "Other aspirants are also expected to conduct their proclamation rallies today, but they will be held at smaller venues."

 

The Philippine Arena meanwhile can sit up to 55,000 but attendees have been limited to 25,000 due to pandemic.

 

 

 

 

 

LACSON AFTER DUTERTE COMMENT: WE WILL RUN AS IF NOBODY ENDORSED US

 

 

 

MANILA — Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson said on Tuesday that he and his running mate Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III will continue running for national office "as if no one is endorsing them."

 

He said this in reaction to President Rodrigo Duterte's earlier statement that he is not supporting any presidential aspirant "at this time" unless there is a compelling reason to do so.

 

"That is his personal decision and belief. Let's leave it at that. We will run as if there is no one or any celebrity endorsing us," Lacson said in Filipino in a press conference with reporters before he formally launched his bid for the highest office in the land.

 

He said they will instead focus on educating people to vote for upright leaders, explaining that "thieves" in top government positions are brought into power because people cast their ballots for them.

 

 

 

 

 

UNFAZED BY SURVEYS AND THE ELITE, DE GUZMAN DETERMINED TO USHER IN WORKER-LED MALACAÑANG

 

 

 

MANILA — Perhaps one of the biggest underdogs of the 2022 presidential elections, Ka Leody de Guzman vows to continue gunning for the highest position in government to bring "genuine change" and "socialist politics" for the welfare of the common Filipino.

 

While lagging in surveys behind his more affluent and popular opponents with bigger funds and electoral machinery, the former factory worker says that the common folk who continue to shower him with their trust wills him on.

 

"Lagi nilang itinatanong: Ka Leody, saan ka humuhugot ng lakas ng loob para banggain itong mga dambuhalang kalaban mo?" the firebrand Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino chair said in his proclamation rally Tuesday.

 

"Ang sabi ko, sa mga manggagawa at maralitang pinagsasamantalahan. Sila ang aking inspirasyon... Dahil mula sa simula, ramdam ko kung paano ang mga manggagawa, ang maralita at magsasaka ay pinagsasamantalahan ng iilang mga bilyonaryo at kapitalista dito sa ating bayan."

 

Running under the banner of Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) together with vice presidential candidate and former Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello, around 1,100 attended their preclusion rally at Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City — a venue created in honor of martyrs who fought against Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship.

 

De Guzman's platforms include raising the minimum wage to P750 nationwide, abolishing labor contractualization, land reform, national industrialization, a 20% wealth tax on the 500 wealthiest Filipinos, continuing peace talks with the communist rebels, among a few.

 

 

 

 

 

TIKTOK USER WHO ALLEGEDLY THREATENED BONGBONG SURRENDERS: MARCOS SPOKESMAN

 

 

 

MANILA - A TikTok user behind the alleged death threat against presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has surrendered, the candidate's spokesman said Wednesday.

 

Marcos spokesperson Vic Rodriguez said the TikTok user surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday.

 

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the "owner of the BBM death threat account voluntarily turned himself in to the NBI yesterday (and) was advised to secure the assistance of counsel."

 

"Ngayon aasikasuhin din namin at nang makilala yung taong yan at gaanong kalalim o yung extent ng kanilang pananakot," Rodriguez said in an ANC Headstart interview.

 

"Ang gusto naming malaman how extensive kase nakaka-ilang exchanges na pala sila na nahuli lang yung isang frame na napost niya," he added.

 

"Gusto namin malaman sino-sino pa yung kinakausap niya diyan sa Tiktok, ano yung level or degree of seriousness."

 

Last month, the Department of Justice said it received reports of a TikTok user supposedly posting a death threat against Marcos Jr, who leads voter surveys.

 

TikTok Philippines said the account of the said user has already been permanently banned, and it will be cooperating with the NBI on the issue.

 

 

 

 

 

THE REST

 

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METRO MANILA SCHOOLS RESUME IN-PERSON CLASSES

 

 

 

MANILA — Some elementary and high school students in Metro Manila returned to their classrooms on Wednesday as schools resumed in-person classes.

 

The resumption coincides with the start of the "expansion phase" of in-person classes in the National Capital Region (NCR), under which more schools have been allowed to conduct face-to-face sessions.

 

The Department of Education in a previous statement said the 28 schools that joined the "pilot phase" can carry on with their in-person classes. The agency could not immediately say how many schools are reopening under the expansion phase.

 

One of the schools restarting in-person classes under the new phase is Pio del Pilar Elementary School in Manila City, where students and teachers buzzed with excitement over their return, after nearly 2 years of remote learning due to the pandemic.

 

"'Pag face-to-face [classes], madali kasi pagkatapos ng turo mo, puwede nang i-check 'yong gawa ng bata. Hindi kagaya ng online, iniipon namin. Kung minsan ang tagal mag-submit ng bata ng output nila," said teacher Lolibeth Recto.

 

Principal Susan Ramos assured that the school was prepared to isolate anyone who gets sick or experiences COVID-19 symptoms.

 

"'Pag may symptoms ang bata, ipapa-test namin siya, i-isolate kaagad siya. Mayroon kaming clinic," Ramos said.

 

The expansion phase is the second in a three-part plan to gradually reopen basic education schools under the continued COVID-19 pandemic.

 

 

 

 

 

IN PH, SMALL FISHERMEN RACE COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSELS FOR DWINDLING CATCH

 

 

 

MANILA – An advocacy group is urging the Philippine government to implement the vessel monitoring system to drive away commercial fishing vessels intruding into municipal waters.

 

Oceana Philippines senior campaign manager Danny Ocampo said that under the Fisheries Code, the 15-kilometer area from the shoreline in municipal waters is reserved for fishermen with small vessels.

 

"Sila yung walang kakayahang lumaot nang malayo dahil ang mga bangka nila maliliit, ang palakaya nila o yung ginagamit pangisda ay ano lang, mga simple, katulad ng kawil at maliliit na lambat,” he told TeleRadyo.

 

Ocampo warned the intrusion of commercial fishing vessels in municipal waters negatively impacts poor fishermen.

 

“Yung isang nabanggit ng mayor sa northern Cebu, si Mayor Mariano Martinez ‘no, ng San Remigio, ang binanggit niya sa’min, kapag nagdatingan o pumasok yung mga commercial fishing vessels doon sa municipal waters nila doon sa northern Cebu, ang sabi niya, 7-10 araw halos walang mahuli yung mga maliliit na mangingisda," he said.

 

“At kung titingnan natin, yung 7-10 araw na yun, ang ibig sabihin niyan, yung maliliit na mangingisda ay walang maiuuwing pagkain sa kanilang hapag-kainan."

 

“Pangalawa yung kanilang kita ay hindi nila makukuha at magkakaproblema sila doon sa pagsuporta sa pangangailangan ng pamilya,” he added.

 

Oceana is pushing for the implementation of a vessel monitoring system that will help the government track down commercial fishing vessels.

 

Ocampo said that there are 3,077 boats nationwide that need to be fitted with vessel monitoring systems.

 

“Pero hanggang sa ngayon, kalahati pa lang yung nakakabitan,” he said.

 

Ocampo called on the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and Department of Agriculture (DA) to properly implement the law and ensure the welfare of small fisherfolk.

 

 

 

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

 

 

 

 

 

LIST: OSCARS 2022 NOMINEES IN MAIN CATEGORIES

 

 

 

HOLLYWOOD — Here are the nominees in key categories for the 94th Academy Awards, to be handed out in Los Angeles on March 27.

 

Jane Campion's "The Power of the Dog," an eerie psychological Western about a repressed 1920s cattle rancher in Montana, leads with 12, followed by sci-fi epic "Dune" at 10, and "Belfast" and "West Side Story" tied at seven.

 

 

 

Best picture

 

 

 

"Belfast"

 

"CODA"

 

"Don't Look Up"

 

"Drive My Car"

 

"Dune"

 

"King Richard"

 

"Licorice Pizza"

 

"Nightmare Alley"

 

"The Power of the Dog"

 

"West Side Story"

 

 

 

Best director

 

 

 

Kenneth Branagh, "Belfast"

 

Ryusuke Hamaguchi, "Drive My Car"

 

Paul Thomas Anderson, "Licorice Pizza"

 

Jane Campion, "The Power of the Dog"

 

Steven Spielberg, "West Side Story"

 

 

 

Best actor

 

 

 

Javier Bardem, "Being the Ricardos"

 

Benedict Cumberbatch, "The Power of the Dog"

 

Andrew Garfield, "tick, tick...BOOM!"

 

Will Smith, "King Richard"

 

Denzel Washington, "The Tragedy of Macbeth"

 

 

 

Best actress

 

 

 

Jessica Chastain, "The Eyes of Tammy Faye"

 

Olivia Colman, "The Lost Daughter"

 

Penelope Cruz, "Parallel Mothers"

 

Nicole Kidman, "Being the Ricardos"

 

Kristen Stewart, "Spencer"

 

 

 

Best supporting actor

 

 

 

Ciaran Hinds, "Belfast"

 

Troy Kotsur, "CODA"

 

Jesse Plemons, "The Power of the Dog"

 

JK Simmons, "Being the Ricardos"

 

Kodi Smit-McPhee, "The Power of the Dog"

 

 

 

Best supporting actress

 

 

 

Jessie Buckley, "The Lost Daughter"

 

Ariana DeBose, "West Side Story"

 

Judi Dench, "Belfast"

 

Kirsten Dunst, "The Power of the Dog"

 

Aunjanue Ellis, "King Richard"

 

 

 

Best international feature film

 

 

 

"Drive My Car" (Japan)

 

"Flee" (Denmark)

 

"The Hand of God" (Italy)

 

"Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom" (Bhutan)

 

"The Worst Person in the World" (Norway)

 

 

 

Best animated feature

 

 

 

"Encanto"

 

"Flee"

 

"Luca"

 

"The Mitchells vs the Machines"

 

"Raya and the Last Dragon"

 

 

 

Best documentary feature

 

 

 

"Ascension"

 

"Attica"

 

"Flee"

 

"Summer of Soul"

 

"Writing with Fire"

 

 

 

Best original screenplay

 

 

 

"Belfast" - Kenneth Branagh

 

"Don't Look Up" - Adam McKay and David Sirota

 

"King Richard" - Zach Baylin

 

"Licorice Pizza" - Paul Thomas Anderson

 

"The Worst Person in the World" - Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier

 

 

 

Best adapted screenplay

 

 

 

"CODA" - Sian Heder

 

"Drive My Car" - Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Takamasa Oe

 

"Dune" - Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve, Eric Roth

 

"The Lost Daughter" - Maggie Gyllenhaal

 

"The Power of the Dog" - Jane Campion

 

 

 

Films with six or more nominations

 

 

 

"The Power of the Dog": 12

 

"Dune": 10

 

"Belfast": 7

 

"West Side Story": 7

 

"King Richard": 6

 

 

 

 

 

SPORTS

 

 

 

 

 

NBA SCORES FEB 7

 

 

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Heat35-20         39        21        31        30        121

 

Wizards24-29    24        29        17        30        100

 

CAPITAL ONE ARENA, WASHINGTON, DC

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

B. Adebayo MIA

 

21 PTS 7 REB 4 AST

 

C. Kispert WAS

 

20 PTS 6 REB 1 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Raptors29-23    35        21        24        36        116

 

Hornets28-27    21        20        34        26        101

 

SPECTRUM CENTER, CHARLOTTE, NC

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            G. Trent Jr. TOR

 

24 PTS 3 REB 2 AST

 

            M. Bridges CHA

 

25 PTS 6 REB 5 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Warriors41-13   20        36        29        25        110

 

Thunder17-36   23        23        26        26        98

 

PAYCOM CENTER, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

K. Thompson GS

 

21 PTS 2 REB 2 AST

 

L. Dort OKC

 

26 PTS 4 REB 1 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Suns43-10        36        31        35        25        127

 

Bulls33-21         29        20        34        41        124

 

UNITED CENTER, CHICAGO, IL

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

D. Booker PHO

 

38 PTS 4 REB 5 AST

 

D. DeRozan CHI

 

38 PTS 5 REB 4 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

1          2          3          4          T

 

Knicks24-30      28        29        29        18        104

 

Jazz33-21         28        31        23        31        113

 

VIVINT ARENA, SALT LAKE CITY, UT

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

J. Randle NY

 

30 PTS 6 REB 5 AST

 

D. Mitchell UTA

 

32 PTS 7 REB 6 AST

 

 

 

 

 

INDICATORS

 

 

 

FOREX $1 = P 51.50

 

 

 

 

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

 

 

 

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. - African Proverb