MARCOS TO TAKE HIS OATH AS PH'S 17TH PRESIDENT AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM

MANILA - President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will take his oath as the Philippines' 17th chief executive at the National Museum, his camp said on Thursday.

Marcos' inaugural committee has "recently conducted an ocular inspection of the area and found it to be a suitable venue," said Zenaida Angping, incoming chief of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS).

"The National Museum of Philippines building and its surrounding areas match our requirements for President-elect Marcos' inauguration. Preparations are already in full swing to ensure that it will be ready by then," Angping said in a statement.

Marcos earlier said he hopes to be inaugurated at the Quirino Grandstand - where most previous presidents took their oath of office - but the venue is still being used for the government's COVID=19 efforts.

"The safety and welfare of our people are paramount. As such, we chose to avoid disrupting the medical care being given to the COVID-19 patients housed there," Angping said.

"That's why we opted for the National Museum as the venue."

The National Museum was designed in 1918 and was fully constructed in 1926 to serve as the "new home of the National Library of the Philippines."

It was later on used for the proclamation of the Philippine Commonwealth in 1935, before it housed the National Assembly.

It was destroyed during World War II and underwent a massive reconstruction from 1949 to 1950.

The National Museum also had to close in 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.It was reopened in March 2021 after health restrictions eased.

Aside from Marcos, other Philippine Presidents who took their oath at the National Museum include Manuel L. Quezon (1935), Jose P. Laurel (1943), and Manuel Roxas (1946).

PNP BEEFS UP SECURITY FOR SARA INAUGURATION AFTER KORONADAL BLAST

MANILA – The Philippine National Police is beefing up security in Mindanao ahead of vice-president elect Sara Duterte-Carpio’s inauguration on June 19 following a bus blast in Koronadal City, South Cotabato that injured one person.

The daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte is set to take her oath along San Pedro Street in Davao City, near the city hall where she served as its mayor.

“Mas magiging mahigpit po yung lahat ng ating security ngayon. As a matter of fact po since day 1 nagkaroon po ng original na panggugulo coming from other groups ‘no, eh immediately we made a communication to all units, to all commanders on the ground…kaya ang ginawa po natin ngayon ay mas pinaigting po natin yung security measures na ginagawa po ng ating kapulisan sa area,” PNP Officer-in-Charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. told TeleRadyo.

Danao asked those attending Duterte-Carpio’s inauguration to cooperate with security measures put in place at the venue’s entry points.

“Kung pupunta po kayo sa inauguration area, eh we advise that you come at least 2 hours earlier. Para po mas mapadali natin malusutan yung mga checkpoint and mapaaga po tayo,” he said.

He also called on attendees not to bring too many belongings to the oath-taking.

“We discourage na lang po na magdala ng any bags, kung magdadala naman po tayo ng any items, eh we suggest that you use transparent bags ‘no, o kaya transparent na mga canisters, okay? So para po makita natin kaagad po yung laman po ng inyong mga bag tsaka laman po ng lagayan ng inumin,” he said.

FITCH RATINGS RAISES OUTLOOK ON PH BANKS TO 'STABLE' FROM 'NEGATIVE'

Fitch Ratings revised its outlook on Philippine banks to stable from negative due to continued economic recovery and waning COVID-19 pandemic risks.

This, after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas hiked the key interest rate to 2.25 percent from 2 percent.

Banks are likely to benefit from higher interest rates.

“Loan demand has improved in tandem in recent months and we expect the trend to be sustained through the rest of the year despite rising inflation,” Fitch Ratings said.

“Banks are well positioned to benefit from higher benchmark policy rates, considering their asset mix and favorable deposit structure,” it added.

But it has retained the negative outlook on credit worthiness of 5 local banks, which it said was tied to the movement of sovereign ratings which is also still negative. These banks, however, are poised for continued gradual growth, it said.

In July 2021, Fitch Ratings affirmed the country’s BBB rating but downgraded its outlook to negative.

INTENSIFY DRUG WAR, PDEA URGES MARCOS

MANILA — Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Wilkins Villanueva is urging president-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to strengthen the government’s war on drugs once he assumes office.

Villanueva made the appeal as he claimed that the crackdown on drugs, which was initiated by President Duterte, has been proven effective in maintaining peace and order in the country.

“We urge incoming president Marcos to continue and intensify the war on drugs,” the PDEA chief said at a press conference after his presentation at Malacañang during the Duterte legacy summit on Tuesday.

Villanueva said the war on drugs should be free of politics, as he claimed that the campaign against prohibited drugs has been proven effective in the reduction of crimes.

“The national anti-drug campaign is apolitical and knows no color. The sanctity of human life is the only thing familiar to it,” he said.

In his audio-visual presentation, Villanueva said the crime rate decreased from 45.04 percent in 2016 to 26.01 percent in 2022.

Villanueva said the Marcos administration should continue the war on drugs to ensure that the next generation of Filipinos will be protected from the ill effects of drug abuse.

“Hindi lang tayo ang magbe-benefit dito kung hindi pati ang ating mga anak at maging mga anak nila,” Villanueva said.

AFTER LAST DAYS IN OFFICE, DUTERTE SAYS HE'LL RETURN TO TEACHING CRIMINAL LAW

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte intends to go back to teaching aspiring police officers criminal law procedures after he steps down from office.

Speaking to Filipino athletes who joined the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games last Tuesday, Duterte reiterated that illegal drugs can destroy the country and can corrupt the police, prosecutors and judges.

He claimed that the narcotics trade is corrupting authorities until now.

"That's why I said I would teach again. You know where I will teach? I will go back, I was a part-time professor in a police academy in Davao. I was teaching criminal law, criminal evidence, criminal procedure," the president said after the awarding of incentives to SEA Games medalists in Malacañang.

Duterte recalled that when he was a prosecutor, there was a time when he was surprised that the specimen he was about to present to the court was actually "tawas" or salt crystal used as deodorant, not illegal drugs.

"I was given evidence and that is why they (suspects) insisted on revalidating the specimen. I was holding tawas in court. I have seen that it has corrupted the police, it has corrupted the prosecutors. Drugs corrupt the judges and everybody," Duterte said.

NEXT SENATE MINORITY BLOC EYED TO HAVE AT LEAST THREE MEMBERS

MANILA — Reelectionist Sen. Risa Hontiveros hopes that there will be at least three lawmakers who will be part of the Senate minority bloc in the upcoming Congress, but believes that strength in numbers are not as important as having a "true minority."

Hontiveros won another term in the Upper House, but is the lone opposition candidate who made it to the so-called "Magic 12" in this year's polls.

"Umaasa kami na at least tatlo kung hindi man mas marami at dahil nang nasabi ko dati, hindi naman ang pinakaimportante ay ang absolute number ng minorya. Ang pinakamahalaga ay tunay na minorya kami," she told reporters in an interview at the Senate building on Wednesday.

She explained that a "true minority" will act as a check, serve as a fiscalizer, and work with members of the majority as well.

Talks are currently ongoing with possible members of the minority, including Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, although Hontiveros said "he can speak for himself."

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2 PHARMALLY EXECUTIVES FREED FROM PASAY JAIL

Two detained executives of the controversial Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. have been freed from Pasay City jail more than six months after the Senate blue ribbon committee ordered their detention.

Footage taken by ABS-CBN News showed Pharmally officials Mohit Dargani and Linconn Ong leaving the jail past 9 a.m. Thursday. This, after outgoing Senate President Vicente Sotto III signed the release order Wednesday night.

Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp faced investigation in both houses of Congress after it cornered P8.5 billion in contracts with the Department of Budget and Management's Procurement Service (PS-DBM) between April and June 2020 despite having only P625,000 in capital.

Ong and Dargani were detained because they refused to cooperate with the Senate investigation.

Pharmally chairperson Huang Tzu Yen earlier told senators the company had to borrow money from Chinese businessman and former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang to finance the procurement of face masks and RT-PCR test kits.

Ong initially said Yang’s role was only to introduce him to Chinese suppliers but later admitted Yang also acted as guarantor.

DRILON TO NEOPHYTE SENATORS: 'KAILANGAN PO MAG-ARAL'

MANILA - Outgoing Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Thursday urged neophyte senators to study, saying getting elected "does not make one a senator."

"Kailangan po mag-aral sila (They need to study)... You must earn the respect of your peers first, and the public second. And therefore, there's nothing wrong with studying and getting advice from experts in the field," he told ANC's Headstart.

"In the Senate, you get confronted with issues in various fields and therefore to be able to participate and contribute your share in policymaking, you must have certain knowledge of what is the issue at hand."

Drilon said as a lawmaker, he brushed up on his past experience as a member of the executive branch for 9 years.

"I had to study, to listen. I was quiet for the first few months trying to learn the traditions of the institution of democracy called the Senate. That was how I was able to get into the groove," he said.

"To those who are incoming, there's no substitute for studying and learning. Learning as we know is a never-ending process. Even at my age, 76, I continue to read, I continue to learn new things," he said.

Drilon added that he joins Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri in advising incoming Sen. Robin Padilla to "study hard" as he was eyeing to lead the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendment and Revision of Codes and Laws.

The post "requires legal knowledge" and the senator must have "exposure to the Constitution," Drilon said.

‘MAG-ARAL NANG MABUTI’: ZUBIRI TELLS PADILLA ON POSSIBLE COMMITTEE CHAIRMANSHIP

MANILA – Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri advised incoming senator Robin Padilla to study legal terminologies and the Constitution, especially since he is eyeing to lead the constitutional amendment and public information committees of the Senate.

According to Zubiri, Padilla asked for the Committee on Constitutional Amendments, and since nobody else wants to lead the committee, then he might actually end up being the chairperson.

"No other member of ours wishes to head the committee. Wala pong gustong maghead ng committee na ’yan and therefore, kung ’yan po talaga ang adhikain niya, he might shine [in that position]," he told Teleradyo Wednesday.

"Let us listen to his arguments, dapat pag-aralan niyang mabuti itong Consti amendments and revision of laws. Remember revision of laws din ’yan so ’yung mga papalitan na batas, ’yung aamyendahan na batas, lalo na sa mga issues on criminal law and other corporate law. Dadaan sa kaniya ’yun, " Zubiri added.

Aside from constitutional amendments, revision of existing laws is also part of the tasks of the committee, which is usually led by a lawyer.

"Actually sa totoo lang, abogado talaga ang humahawak ng committee na ’yan, pero gusto niya eh. Baka magpakita-ng gilas ang ating kaibigan na si Senator Robin Padilla but I have to appeal to him and of course bigyan ko po ng payo at advise, mag-aral nang mabuti. Kailangan mag-aral ka nang mabuti," Zubiri said.

DAGUPAN CITY SIZZLES IN 55°C HEAT INDEX

DAGUPAN CITY — People flocked to Pangasinan beaches yesterday not only to celebrate the annual Pista’y Dayat or Sea Festival, but also to chill after this city registered a heat index of 55 degrees Celsius.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said the 55 degrees Celsius heat index, the highest so far this year, was recorded at 2 p.m.

“For now, this is the highest heat index recorded in the province this year,” the Pangasinan provincial disaster risk reduction management office said in a post on social media. “The maximum temperature was recorded at 35.2°C and humidity at 76 percent.”

The public was advised to drink water frequently and avoid becoming dehydrated as chances of heat stroke were high.

Yesterday’s heat index was higher than the figure recorded on April 22, which was 54.39 degrees Celsius, PAGASA said.

Heat index is the combined effect felt by the human body from the actual temperature and the accompanying humidity.

PAGASA said high air temperatures and high relative humidity give apparent high temperatures or indices.

Full exposure to sunshine can increase the heat index by eight degrees Celsius.

On Saturday, Dagupan registered a heat index of 50 degrees Celsius.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

DEPP WINS OUT IN BITTER HEARD DEFAMATION TRIAL

A US jury has found Amber Heard defamed ex-husband Johnny Depp with an article in which she claimed she was a victim of domestic abuse.

Jurors awarded Mr Depp - who denied abusing Ms Heard - $15m (£12m) in compensatory and punitive damages.

Ms Heard, 36, won one of three counter-claims against Mr Depp, 58, and was awarded $2m in compensatory damages.

The Hollywood stars, who divorced in 2017, presented conflicting versions of their doomed relationship in the trial.

Over six weeks, the court in Fairfax, Virginia, heard tawdry details of Mr Depp and Ms Heard's tempestuous marriage, and its unhappy ending.

Polls suggested many Americans were more interested in the legal drama than the war in Ukraine or a potentially historic ruling on abortion expected any day from the US Supreme Court.

Coverage of the trial - which was televised and livestreamed - hit billions of views on social media.

After nearly two days of deliberations, jurors found on Wednesday that Ms Heard's statements about her marriage were "false" and she had acted with "actual malice".

But they also found that Mr Depp had defamed Ms Heard when his lawyer gave a statement to the Daily Mail in 2020 calling her abuse allegations a hoax.

On the eve of the verdict, Mr Depp received a standing ovation after performing with Mr Beck at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

In a statement on Wednesday, he said: "The jury gave me my life back. I am truly humbled."

He added, in Latin: "Truth never perishes."

WHY BEA ALONZO BELIEVES FLIRTING IS ALREADY CHEATING

MANILA — Kapuso actress Bea Alonzo believed that flirting is already cheating when you’re in a relationship.

In her latest video blog on her YouTube channel, Bea was asked if it’s okay if their partners flirted with their friends.

“Syempre hindi. For me, flirting is already cheating, a window to cheat. ‘Pag nag-flirt tapos ‘pag bumigay, e 'di affair na ‘yon. I think you should stand your ground,” Bea stressed.

“Tell your boyfriend, ‘You know, this isn’t okay.’ Let the person know that you have these boundaries that they cannot cross. Otherwise, you will end the relationship,” she added.

She was also asked if it’s okay if their partners would like photos of other girls on social media.

“Si Dom, madalas siyang nagla-like ng mga picture ng friends niya na babae or kahit mga babae na ‘di niya friends, okay lang. He appreciates beauty and I trust him so I know he won’t do anything stupid,” she said.

Bea, however, said that it’s better to ask your boyfriend about it if you are not comfortable with what he is doing.

“Why don’t you ask your boyfriend about it? If it affects you, definitely, it’s valid. Pag-usapan niyo ng boyfriend mo,” she said.

The actress clarified that she’s not the type of person who gets easily jealous.

“Hindi ako selosa tungkol sa ibang tao, sa mga babae, pero nagseselos ako kapag nagbibigay siya ng atensyon sa iba na mas madalas kesa sa’kin — sa mga kaibigan, gadgets niya, sa drone, sa gaming,” she said.

Bea and Dominic celebrated their first anniversary as a couple last January.

SPORTS

GILAS TO HOST INDIA ANEW

MANILA — Gilas will play India in the third window of the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers for Asia at the MOA Arena on July 3. Last February, the Philippines beat India, 88-64, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in the second window. After the third window, the top three finishers of Group A where the Philippines is bracketed with India, New Zealand and South Korea advance to play in the second round of three more windows.

The Philippines will open the third window with a road game against New Zealand in Auckland on June 30. Gilas lost to the Tall Blacks, 88-63, at the Big Dome last February. The first round of three windows initially scheduled a home-and-away series between two countries but changes were made due to the pandemic. The first window was cancelled last November and games were compressed in the second window where India and New Zealand played each other twice in Manila. South Korea forfeited its games in the first and second windows, losing the chance to play in the World Cup next year.

SBP deputy executive director Butch Antonio said Gilas will play a two-game friendly with the Korean national squad in Anyang on June 17 and 18 to warm up for the third window. Korean coach Choo Il Seung will call the shots for the host team. Antonio said after the third window, Gilas will play in the FIBA Asia Cup in Jakarta on July 12-24.

Gilas opened training camp yesterday with several invited players in the pool still not in attendance. Dwight Ramos, for instance, has committed to play for Gilas but will only arrive from abroad next week. UP’s James Spencer is in Australia and it’s not certain when he’ll be back. Antonio said the plan is to form a training pool of 16 to 17 players. The collegiate players invited to the pool were Rhenz Abando, Carl Tamayo, Ange Kouame, RJ Abarrientos, SJ Belangel, Dave Ildefonso, Kevin Quiambao, Sherwin Concepcion and Spencer. Justine Baltazar, who has completed his UAAP eligibility, may join the pool depending on his schedule with Pampanga in the NBL. Thirdy Ravena, William Navarro and Francis Lopez are committed to play for Gilas.

INDICATORS

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Even peace may be purchased at too high a price. - Benjamin Franklin