CARPIO: CHINA’S CONSENT NOT NEEDED TO ENFORCE SOUTH CHINA SEA RULING

MANILA — China does not need to recognize The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling on the West Philippine Sea (WPS) for the Philippines to enforce sovereignty in the area, retired senior associate justice Antonio Carpio said.

China still refuses to honor The Hague’s ruling as “final” and “indisputable” as Beijing warned that it would respond to attempts to implement the ruling on the South China Sea arbitration.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday that “China neither accepts nor recognizes it and will never accept any claim or action based on the award.”

During the 9th Virtual International Conference on South China Sea titled “Six Years After Tribunal Award: Developments in the South China (West Philippine) Sea” on Saturday, Carpio said waiting for recognition of the ruling is moot since China will never uphold the arbitral award.

“To exert or enforce the arbitral award, the Philippines does not need the consent of China. The arbitral award by itself affirms the PH can exclusively exploit the national resource in the EEZ (exclusive economic zone) without interference from other coastal states,” Carpio said.

Carpio said China called the award just a piece of paper since they did not participate in the arbitration but China’s position has been debunked by the tribunal.

Prior to the arbitral award, he said there was a legal question who owned the natural resources, including the oil and gas in the WPS, enclosed by China’s nine-dash line.

“The award provides that final and definitive legal clarity. Now, service contractor knows if it extracts… for China in WPS, the Philippines can sue the contractor for stealing oil and gas belonging to the Philippines,” he said.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo rejected Tuesday attempts to undermine the ruling, saying the tribunal’s findings are “indisputable.”

Manalo made the statement marking the 6th anniversary of the Award on the South China Sea Arbitration, the day that affirmed to the community of nations that the rule of law prevails, and that stability, peace and progress can only be attained when founded on a rules-based legal order on the oceans.

He said the arbitral award and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, or UNCLOS, are the twin anchors of the Philippines’ policy and actions on the WPS.

LISTEN TO MARCOS’ PLANS, SONA PROTESTERS URGED

MANILA — An official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday urged protesters not to hold rallies during the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Marcos and instead, listen to his plans for the country.

PNP director for operations Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon asked anti-Marcos protesters to monitor the speech of the President to know what his programs are for the next six years.

“It will be better for the people to just listen to what President Marcos will say during the SONA because this is where he will outline his programs,” De Leon said. “So hopefully, people will not hold rallies anymore.”

De Leon, however, said protesters would still be allowed to hold rallies in designated freedom parks.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary general Renato Reyes slammed the statement of De Leon.

“The SONA has been an annual occasion for the people to air their grievances and press government to act on pressing matters. General De Leon displays a narrow understanding of how democracy should work. All have the right to be heard, including critics of Marcos,” Reyes said in a statement.

“Those who disagree with Marcos and are opposed to his policies have the right to protest against the government,” he added.

Reyes said the surging cost of fuel and basic commodities, low wages, job losses, crushing debt, deteriorating agriculture, human rights violations and corruption are among the reasons for the people to hold protests.

De Leon said the PNP is all set for Marcos’ SONA on July 25.

Police have not received any threats so far, he said.

SEN. MARCOS ON 'MAID IN MALACAÑANG' MOVIE: 'NO LEEWAY FOR FALSEHOOD'

MANILA - Amid controversy, "Maid in Malacañang", the movie about supposed details of the last three days of the Marcos family at the Palace at the culmination of the EDSA 1986 revolution was launched on Sunday at the Manila Hotel.

Senator Imee Marcos and the film’s cast as well as Viva Films’ production and creative team attended the event.

Marcos, who serves as the movie's prime consultant, reiterated that "Maid in Malacañang" is a factual personal account of her family’s last 72 hours before they were flown out from Manila to Hawaii.

"The problem with this story is we all know how it ended and what happened 36 years down the line," Marcos told the media.

"Alam natin lahat (We all know) so there’s no leeway for falsehood, untruth, reimagining or fantasy telling. Kailangan makatotohanan! (It has to be truthful)," she added.

Directed by Darryl Yap, Maid in Malacañang stars Cesar Montano and Ruffa Gutierrez as the late President Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Imelda Marcos.

"Hindi namin binabago ang kasaysayan (We're not changing history)," Senator Marcos earlier told ABS-CBN News, reacting to accusation of attempts at historical revisionism.

"Dinagdagan lang namin ng impormasyon. For me at sa aking pamilya, panahon na na magkuwento rin kami kung anong nangyari sa Malacañang nung panahong 'yon, 'yung nalalaman namin," she said.

Marcos also admitted her initial reluctance to give the green light to the project initiated by Yap.

"It was a difficult process because so much of what happened was painful and traumatic. I did not want to relive that again," said the senator who eventually relented after hemming and hawing with Yap.

"I also felt an obligation to tell our side of the story. Dapat ikwento din namin (We should also tell it)," she added.

Marcos also downplayed her family’s return to Malacañang as a narrative thread in the movie’s trailer.

"Malacañang is only a place. Ang totoo, galing na kami doon, 'di naman big deal na nakabalik kami (The truth is, we've been there, it's not a big deal that we've returned)," she stressed.

"Hindi sa minamaliit ko 'yon, ang mahalaga yung apelyido ng tatay ko at pamilya namin na makaahon at makabangon," Marcos said.

Described as a family drama-comedy, the film also stars Cristine Reyes as Imee Marcos, Diego Loyzaga as Bongbong Marcos, and Ella Cruz as Irene Araneta.

Viva Films is rushing the completion of the movie for its projected nationwide cinema showing first week of August.

CHINA OPEN TO 'TECHNICAL DISCUSSIONS' ON INFRA PROJECTS

China is "open" for technical discussions with the Philippine government after a Transport official revealed several infrastructure projects remain unfunded, a spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said.

President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr had also ordered officials to renegotiate deals with the Chinese government, DOTr Usec. Cesar Chavez earlier said.

Several China-funded infrastructure projects under the Build, Build Build program have been stalled including the Laguna to Bicol, Clark to Subic, and the Mindanao Railway.

"China is open for technical discussions over our G-to-G projects, and is ready to carry our cooperation forward, in close communication with the Philippine new administration," the statement from the Chinese Embassy in Manila said.

"China will tap its own advantage and support the Philippines to improve its infrastructure. Our two sides have been negotiating technical issues and made positive progress to move the projects forward," it added.

Meanwhile, some big ticket infrastructure projects funded by Japan and the Asian Development Bank have broken ground and currently under construction including the Metro Manila Subway project, the South Commuter Railway an the Malolos-Clark railway.

'INSULT TO PH JUDICIAL SYSTEM': 'BATO' WON'T COOPERATE WITH ICC PROBE ON DRUG WAR

MANILA - Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said Monday he will not cooperate with the International Criminal Court's investigation into the Philippine drug war if it resumes.

Dela Rosa, who headed president Rodrigo Duterte's anti-narcotics campaign as his first Philippine National Police chief, said he will only cooperate if he would be tried by Filipino judges.

"Gusto mo kong ihawin sa sarili kong apoy. I'm the number 2 accused. Ba't ako magpaunder sa jurisdiction nila meron naman tayong Supreme Court dito. Di nila alam ano problema ng ating bansa," he told ANC's Headstart.

"Sila'y nakikinig lang sa bias ng mga kalaban ng Duterte administration. In the first place they've already shown their bias. I'm willing to face the court basta Filipino-skinned ang magta-try sa'kin. 'Di tayo papaalipin sa mga banyaga."

Allowing the ICC to continue its investigation would be an "insult to the Philippine justice system, Dela Rosa said.

"Who are they to judge our working judicial system? Bakit sila nakikialam dito sa ating domestic affairs? It’s perfectly working, wala naman akong nakikitang problems," he said.

"Gusto nila sila na lang maging Supreme Court dito sa Pilipinas? Maging DOJ (Department of Justice) ng Pilipinas? That's total infringement of our sovereignty."

Duterte never said he would kill anyone, his former city and national police chief said.

"Meron ba siyang sinabi na patayin niyo lahat yan? Wala naman...Figure of speech yang pinagsasabi niya," he said. "Sabi niya 'I will kill you,' wala naman siya pinatay."

More than 6,000 people have been killed under Duterte's anti-narcotics campaign based on police data but human rights groups claim it could go up to "a high of 30,000."

The ICC Prosecutor's investigation will cover killings under the drug war since Duterte assumed office in July 2016 until the Philippines' withdrawal from the Rome Statute on March 16, 2019.

It would also look into the killings in Davao City from Nov. 1, 2011 to June 30, 2016, when Duterte served as mayor and vice mayor.

DELA ROSA SEEKS TO REVIVE DEATH PENALTY, MANDATORY ROTC

MANILA - Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa said Monday he has filed bills to revive the death penalty and mandatory ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps).

The former Philippine National Police chief said the death penalty would be only for "large-scale, high-level drug traffickers."

This would be defined as those who will be caught with 1 kilo of drugs, Dela Rosa said, adding that the figure will still be discussed at the committee and plenary level.

"Our legislative proposal only limits the offenses to large-scale drug trafficking. Automatic tatamaan dito yung big-time drug traffickers. Sigurado tayo di tayo makakakita ng very strict opposition," he told ANC's Headstart.

"I would just like to comment ang assumption natin na flawed ang justice system. Ako naniniwala pa rin ako sa'ting mga korte. Sampal yan sa'ting mga korte."

The death penalty was abolished in the Philippines in 2006, under the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

MANILA DEPLOYS FREE RIDES DUE TO FLOOD

MANILA — The Manila city government deployed free rides for passengers who were stranded due to a severe thunderstorm that affected the metropolis and neighboring areas, causing flooding on Saturday night.

In a statement, the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM) office said the thunderstorm that lasted three hours dumped 55 millimeters of rainwater and caused floods in the city.

Free rides with routes Buendia to España, Monumento and Divisoria were deployed to assist the stranded passengers.

The DRRM office monitored flooding at 8 p.m. on Saturday in the following areas: Taft Avenue, UN Avenue, Quirino Avenue, Padre Faura street, España Boulevard, Ma. Orosa street and Padre Burgos Avenue.

The weather bureau said a thunderstorm dumped rains over Metro Manila on Saturday, which caused floods in various areas.

Several roads were not passable due to the floods, authorities said.       

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PHILIPPINES REPORTS 2,560 NEW COVID-19 CASES; ACTIVE CASES HIGHEST SINCE APRIL 18

MANILA — The Philippines on Sunday recorded 2,560 new COVID-19 cases and no new death, data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed.

This is the fourth straight day that new cases breached the 2,000-mark, ABS-CBN Data Analytics Team head Edson Guido said.

The number of people currently positive for the coronavirus stood at 19,873, the highest since April 18, Guido added.

The country's total confirmed COVID-19 cases climbed to 3,733,101.

Of the additional cases reported during the day, 988 were from Metro Manila, the DOH said.

The positivity rate for July 10 to 16 is at 11.8 percent, higher than the 9.7 percent recorded the previous week, Guido also said.

5 PROVINCES REPORT 'VERY HIGH' COVID POSITIVITY RATE

MANILA — Five provinces in the country have a "very high" COVID-19 positivity rate of more than 20 percent, OCTA Research reported Saturday.

Aklan province reported a positivity rate of 31.9 percent on July 15, much higher than the 26.9 percent rate it recorded only 6 days earlier.

Other provinces with positivity rates of more than 20 percent are Laguna, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, and Tarlac.

"In provinces where the positivity rate is very high, i.e. above 20%, the public is strongly advised to practice necessary caution to prevent Covid infection," research fellow Dr. Guido David said in a tweet.

OCTA Research also reported a 12.6 percent positivity rate in Metro Manila.

MOST FILIPINOS TRUST 2022 ELECTION RESULTS: PULSE ASIA

MANILA — Majority of Filipino adults trust that the results of the May 2022 elections are accurate and credible, according to a Pulse Asia survey released Monday.

The June 24 to 27 poll found that 82 percent of respondents had "big trust" of the outcome of the national and local elections, in which trust is most pronounced in Mindanao (96%) and least expressed in Luzon (73%).

Some 4 percent of Filipino adults expressed distrust while 14 percent were undecided on the issue, according to the survey results.

The survey comes as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio were declared winners of the May 9 elections.

Meanwhile, most Filipino adults or 89 percent are satisfied with the automated voting system, which Pulse Asia said is the predominant sentiment in every area and class.

The rest of respondents are either dissatisfied with the automated voting system (4%) or are ambivalent on the matter, which is 7 percent.

A huge majority of Filipino adults or 89 percent are in favor of using the automated voting system in future elections, the pollster said.

Pulse Asia said the poll, which was conducted using face-to-face interviews among 1,200 respondents, had a ±2.8 percent error margin at the 95 percent confidence level.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

CUBA WINS MISTER SUPRANATIONAL 2022; PH BET FINISHES IN TOP 20

Luis Daniel Gálvez of Cuba was proclaimed Mister Supranational 2022 during the coronation night in Nowy Sacz, Poland on Sunday morning (Philippine time).

Gálvez bested 33 other candidates, including Matthew Gilbert Wibowo of Indonesia who is 1st runner-up and Leonidas Amfilochios of Greece, 2nd runner-up.

Moises Peñaloza of Mexico is 3rd runner-up, while Heriberto Rivera of Puerto Rico is 4th runner-up.

The Philippines' RaÉd Fernandez Al-Zghayér finished his journey as part of the Top 20. He was among the pageant's Top 10 for the Top Model event.

Last year's representative John Adajar also finished his journey as part of the Top 20. He eventually joined the latest edition of “Pinoy Big Brother” as part of the celebrity batch.

JENNIFER LOPEZ AND BEN AFFLECK TIE THE KNOT IN VEGAS

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have got married in a Las Vegas drive-through chapel.

Lopez announced their marriage on Sunday in her newsletter for fans, with the heading "We did it."

"Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient," wrote Lopez in a message signed Jennifer Lynn Affleck.

The celebrity power couple's wedding in Nevada was the culmination of a relationship that has stretched over two decades in two separate romances and headlined countless tabloid covers.

The ceremony - conducted in classic Vegas fashion - comes three months after the couple confirmed their engagement and 18 years after they cancelled their wedding.

In her newsletter "On the J Lo", Lopez wrote that the couple flew to Las Vegas on Saturday and stood in line for their license with four other couples.

They were then just after midnight at the Little White Chapel, which features a drive-through "tunnel of love".

Lopez called it the best night of their lives.

She added: "Stick around long enough and maybe you'll find the best moment of your life in a drive through in Las Vegas at 12:30 in the morning in the tunnel of love drive through with your kids and the one you'll spend forever with."

Lopez and Affleck's love affair began in July 2002 and they got engaged months later in November.

They had been due to wed in September 2003 but cancelled the nuptials just days before the ceremony and called off their engagement in January 2004.

Affleck was previously married to actress Jennifer Garner but they divorced in 2018 after 13 years of marriage.

SPORTS

FOOTBALL HISTORY! FILIPINAS DEFEAT THAILAND TO LIFT AFF TROPHY

Decades of obscurity have come to an end as the Philippine Women’s National Football Team has earned the right to be called the queens of Southeast Asian football.

In front of 8,257 fans in attendance, the Filipinas prevailed 3-0 over the Thailand War Elephants to win the 2022 AFF Women’s Championship, Sunday evening, at the Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

This victory marks the first time the Philippines has won any competition under the AFF banner.

The Filipinas gained a dream start in the contest thanks to Jessika Cowart. The 5-foot-8 defenser headed the ball past Thailand goalkeeper Chotmanee Thongmongkol off a Tahnai Annis corner in the 8th minute of the match.

Coach Alen Stajcic’s wards then managed to double their cushion in the 20th minute of the match. Katrina Guillou finished from close range to send Rizal Memorial rocking.

Come the second half, the War Elephants started aggressively but the Filipinas kept them at bay.

Frustration grew in the Thai camp as Ploychompoo Somnuek and Kanyanat Chetthabutr received yellow cards for fouls away from the ball.

Somnuek pushed Eva Madarang while the latter was being substituted for Malea Cesar. Meanwhile, Chetthabutr was cautioned for a confrontation against Hali Long.

Sarina Bolden capped off the evening with her eighth goal of the tournament with a header in the 89th minute.

Ultimately, it was the Filipinas’ night to enjoy as the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup-bound squad pulled through to achieve another milestone.

Philippines XI: McDaniel (GK), Sawicki, Long, Annis ©, Bolden, Harrison, Madarang, Quezada, Guillou, Eggesvik, Cowart.

Thailand XI: Thomongkol (GK), Saenkhun, Jerratanapavibul, Philawan, Somnuek, Panyosuk ©, Rodthong, Pram-Nak, Pengngam, Chetthabutr, Aupachia.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Wealth is not his that has it, but his that enjoys it. - Benjamin Franklin