NADA, AWAN, WALA! DEFENSE CHIEF SAYS NO DUTERTE ORDER YET TO SEND NOTICE TO TERMINATE VFAMANILA - 'Fake news.'This was how Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana described information aPalace official sent out Friday night on President Rodrigo Duterte'ssupposed instruction for the Philippines to officially notify the UnitedStates on its intent to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA).In a text exchange with reporters Saturday, Lorenzana said: "This is fakenews. Sec. Locsin has not [seen] the order yet."Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo had told reporters Friday that thePresident has already ordered Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to tellForeign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. to send the VFA terminationnotice to the US."He said, and I quote him, 'I will instruct the Executive Secretary(Salvador Medialdea) to tell the DFA Secretary (Teodoro Locsin Jr) to sendnotice of termination to the US government,'" Panelo said.Panelo also said Duterte and Trump were due to speak by phone.But Lorenzana said Medialdea himself said there was no such order yet."Yes, according to Sec Medialdea! None. Nada. Zilch. Awan. Wala! Anggapo,"said Lorenzana.In a statement later Saturday, Medialdea confirmed that he has not receivedsuch instruction yet."As of date I have not received any instruction to relay any message toanyone," he said.Panelo, meanwhile, insisted "there is no inconsistency" between what he toldthe media on Friday and Lorenzana's statements Saturday."What SND (Lorenzana) meant is ES (Medialdea) has yet to receive theinstruction. That is what ES also told me last night that he has notreceived the instruction yet from PRRD (President Duterte)," he said in astatement."There is no inconsistency. I was quoting PRRD of what he told me. If he hasnot given the instruction yet to ES it does not mean the info I shared tomedia is untrue. It only means ES has not yet gotten the directive fromPRRD," he added.'PROPOSED DIVORCE LAW WON'T BE EASY WAY OUT OF MARRIAGE'MANILA - The proposed divorce law will not be an easy way out of marriage,according to a proponent in the House of Representatives.Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, author of one of three divorce bills approved lastweek by the House committee on population and family relations, said themeasure has very strict requirements that would prevent couples from seekingdivorce for mere convenience."This divorce law is not for everybody... We have stricter provisions ascompared to the US. We are not for quickie divorce like the Las Vegasstyle," he told The Chiefs on One News last Friday evening.Lagman explained that their bills have safety measures to ensure that only"exceptional cases" of couples with "irremediably damaged marriage" willbenefit from this measure.He pointed out that under the proposed law, a prosecutor would be assignedto determine within six months after filing of the divorce petition if thegrounds are valid or if there is collusion between parties. The court wouldalso apply a judicial dispute resolution mechanism and try to reconcile theparties within this period.Divorce, he added, is necessary because the current options under the FamilyCode - legal separation, annulment of marriage and declaration of nullity -do not give complete reliefs to qualified parties.According to him, legal separation only grants separation "in bed and board"but does not grant severance of marriage bond, while annulment would allowre-marriage only on grounds prior to or simultaneous to the solemnization ofmarriage."Divorce will allow grounds that are supervening or during the marriage likemarital infidelity, domestic violence, chronic gambling and engagement inillegal drugs and at the same time allow re-marriage," Lagman said."These (grounds) are not covered by the current provisions in Family Code.We are just trying to give relief to parties and also protection to childrenwho suffer and witness daily torment and stress," he added.As expected, the Catholic Church has expressed strong opposition to theproposal.But Minority Leader and Manila 6th district Rep. Benny Abante Jr., a pastorof the Metropolitan Bible Baptist Church, said he would support the proposeddivorce law if the existing options under the Family Code would be removed.CHINA VIRUS DEATHS RISE PAST 800, OVERTAKING SARS TOLLBEIJING - The death toll from the novel coronavirus outbreak soared to 803in China on Sunday, according to official figures, overtaking the globaltoll for SARS.With 81 more people dying in Hubei -- the province at the center of theoutbreak -- the toll is now higher than the 774 killed worldwide by theSevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome in 2002-2003, according to figuresreleased Sunday.The latest data came after the World Health Organization said numbers were"stabilizing" -- but warned it was too early to make any predictions aboutwhether the virus might have peaked.Nearly 37,000 people have now been infected by the new coronavirus in China,believed to have emerged last year in a market that sold wild animals inHubei's capital Wuhan before spreading across China.FILIPINO AMONG NEW NCOV CASES IN UAEMANILA - The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed yesterday that aFilipino in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has tested positive for the2019-Novel Coronavirus (nCoV).The DFA, in a statement yesterday afternoon, said it will fully coordinatewith UAE health authorities on the case through the Philippine embassy inAbu Dhabi.Citing a report from the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), theDFA said the Filipino is under observation and is being given the necessarymedical care in accordance with the highest standards in the Middle Easternnation."With this in mind, the embassy reminds all Filipinos in the UAE to alwaysfollow the hygiene protocols of the MoHAP and the World Health Organization(WHO)," said the agency."Also, the public is advised to only get their information from UAE healthauthorities and not to post or share on social media and digital messagingany unverified information," it added.30 FILIPINOS FROM NCOV-STRICKEN WUHAN ARRIVE IN PHILIPPINESMANILA - Thirty Filipinos from the Chinese city of Wuhan arrived Sundaymorning in the Philippines, marking the country's first evacuation of itsnationals from the epicenter of the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) that hasalready killed more than 800 people and infected over 37,000 others, mainlyin China.The repatriation of 29 Filipino adults and one infant replicates efforts ofsuch other countries as the United States, Japan, and Singapore in bringinghome their respective nationals amid the growing global concerns over the2019-nCoV acute respiratory disease.The chartered Royal Air flight carrying the 30 repatriates and the 10-membergovernment repatriation team landed around 7 a.m. at the Haribon hangar ofthe Philippine Air Force in Clark, Pampanga province, north of Manila."Upon their arrival, the Filipinos were safely and swiftly transferred fromthe plane into their dedicated buses, and brought to the Athletes' Villagein New Clark City in Tarlac, which will be their home for the 14-dayquarantine period," the Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.There were some 150 Filipinos in Wuhan at the time of the start of the2019-nCoV outbreak, according to the DFA.The repatriated Filipinos will be provided with food, hygiene kits, othernecessities, and will be given access to cellphones, according to HealthUndersecretary Gerardo Bayugo.A mental health team will assess the Filipinos' mental wellness on the thirdday of quarantine, he added.The Philippines has so far monitored 267 patients suspected of carrying thenew strain of virus, of whom 230 were admitted to hospitals and 19 weredischarged. Three, all Chinese nationals, were confirmed to have acquiredthe virus.US INSPECTORS NOTE IMPROVEMENTS IN NAIA SECURITY - DOTRMANILA - An audit of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by the USTransportation Security Administration had no findings, the Department ofTransportation announced Sunday, saying this means inspectors were satisfiedwith the security measures at the airport.DOTr said auditors from the TSA and from the Philippines' Office forTransportation Security finished the audit of terminals and US-boundairlines operating at NAIA earlier in the week.The department press release quoted TSA lead inspector Jose Liriano assaying that the audit team "appreciate the new technologies and equipmentprovided.""We are grateful with the improvements made by the government specificallyin collaboration with the OTS," he also said.Among the aspects of airport operations that the audit looked into wereairport and aircraft security, passenger and baggage screening, the trainingof security personnel, and compliance with international civilian aviationsecurity standards.Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the security improvements atNAIA were a product of the coordination among the department's agencies likethe OTS and Manila International Airport Authority.He added efforts to improve airport security will continue despite the TSA'srating."Security is a commitment, it is a continuous process," he said in the DOTrpress release.357 COPS PROBED FOR NARCO TIESMANILA - A one-star general is among 357 police officers being investigatedfor suspected links with the illegal drug trade.Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Archie Francisco Gamboa said theofficers were relieved from their posts as the probe is ongoing.The process will start tomorrow and is expected to be completed in a month.Gamboa initiated the probe after seeking clearance from President Duterteduring a recent joint command conference, which the Chief Executive granted.Some of the officers were reportedly protecting drug syndicates while theothers are allegedly drug users."We ourselves are going to process them, adjudicate and validate theinformation that they are involved," Gamboa told CNN Philippines on Friday.He said the highest ranking official under probe is a one-star general andthe lowest is a patrolman.Gamboa recently relieved Brig. Gen. Valeriano de Leon from his post as chiefof the Central Visayas police.He clarified that De Leon was not the general he was referring to in thetelevision interview, but another official whom he refused to identity."He is not included in that group. His case is a different matter," Gamboatold The STAR yesterday.SMC TO ENFORCE NEW SKYWAY SCHEMEMANILA - San Miguel Corp. (SMC) will implement a new scheme on the Skywaysystem to help mitigate the impact of a lane closure starting Feb. 16.SMC said Friday the Skyway management will temporarily designate theelevated Skyway for use by Class 1 vehicles only while buses and deliveryvans will be assigned to the at-grade section.Class 1 refers to cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, pick-ups and otherprivate vehicle types.SMC said the new scheme is designed to make travel on the Skyway system moreefficient even as construction for the southbound section of the P10-billionSkyway Extension project switches to high gear.Under the new scheme, SMC said buses and delivery vans coming from Makati,Manila and Pasay bound for Alabang must take the Nichols southbound entrytoll plaza to the at-grade Skyway.Meanwhile, buses and delivery vans from NAIA Expressway bound for Alabangmust take Andrews Avenue going to Sales Road, then take Nichols southboundentry toll plaza to the at-grade Skyway.SMC said buses and delivery vans from NAIA Expressway can also take theMagallanes northbound off-ramp, make a U-turn under the Magallanesinterchange, then head to the Nichols southbound entry toll plaza to theat-grade Skyway.The company earlier asked for the public's understanding as constructionwork for the southbound section of the Skyway Extension project is set tobegin on Feb. 16.Along with the closure of the third southbound lane of Skyway at-grade fromSucat to Filinvest, also scheduled for closure starting Feb. 16 are theAlabang southbound and Bunye South Station exit toll plazas, a portion ofthe northbound West Service Road and the Hillsborough off-ramp from theelevated Skyway to at-grade Skyway.According to SMC, the lane closures will give way to bored piling and columninstallation in the area, which is expected to be completed by March 30.2 ABUS KILLED, 4 SOLDIERS WOUNDED IN SURIGAO SUR CLASHZAMBOANGA CITY - Two Abu Sayyaf bandits were killed while four soldierswere wounded in an encounter in Surigao del Sur on Friday.The slain suspects are said to be with the group of Almujer Yadah.Personnel of the Military Intelligence Group, Air Intelligence Battalion and401st tracked down the bandits after receiving reports that they wereplanning kidnappings in the province.Soldiers of the Light Reaction Company of the Joint Special Operation Unit 2raided a hideout of Abu Sayyaf bandits in Barangay Unidos in Tago town.Prior to the military operation, one of the suspects traveled from Sulu toCaraga last September to conduct casing and spotting of target victims,according to a security official who asked not to be named.MMDA PREPARES FOR SUMMER FILM FESTMANILA - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Fridayconducted an ocular inspection of the proposed parade route as part ofpreparations for the upcoming summer Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF).MMDA chairman Danilo Lim yesterday said the proposed route of the Parade ofStars is from Welcome Rotonda-Quezon Avenue to Quezon Memorial Circle.The proposed route was inspected by the parade committee chaired by MichaelSalalima, chief of staff of the office of the general manager, andco-chaired by Neomi Recio, the MMDA's traffic engineering center chief.The parade will be held on April 5, Palm Sunday, MMFF executive directorRochelle Ona said.It will span 6.2 kilometers and is expected to last two and a half hours.The summer film festival will start on April 11, Black Saturday, and run for11 days.The Lenten holiday of Black Saturday is the second highest grossing playdatenext to Christmas, the MMDA said.SLAUGHTER BIDS GINEBRA GOODBYEMANILA - Big man Greg Slaughter, subject of trade rumors since the latterpart of last season, said he was leaving Barangay Ginebra and taking abreather from basketball.The 7-foot Slaughter made known his decision not to renew his just-expiredcontract with the reigning PBA Governors' Cup champions and will givehimself time to do some soul-searching."Now that my contract has expired, I've decided to take a break to be ableto work on myself in all aspects," he posted on Instagram yesterday.Slaughter, who has been with the crowd darlings since being drafted in thefirst round in 2013, made the announcement in the wake of reports thatGinebra is ready to ship him elsewhere. The name of ChristianStandhardinger, now playing for NorthPort, is being mentioned as a possiblereplacement for Slaughter."I may not know what the future holds, but one thing is for sure, the bestis yet to come!" said Slaughter.The 31-year-old Slaughter leaves the Gin Kings' camp a month after helpingthem regain the season-ending crown."Six years, four championships, a lifetime of experiences and memories, It'sbeen a fun ride being with this team. I will forever be proud to have playedfor Ginebra, a dream of mine that came true when they drafted me in 2013,"said Slaughter, who once won Best Player of the Conference with Ginebra.SOTTO EARNS SLOT TO BWB GLOBAL CAMPMANILA - Kai Sotto's NBA quest got a big boost following his inclusion inthe prestigious Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Global Camp next week inChicago, Illinois.The 7-foot-2 Filipino prodigy will represent the country in the event setFeb. 14-16 as part of the 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend.Sotto, a 17-year-old tower currently playing for Atlanta-based prep programThe Skills Factory (TSF) National, will be joined by 63 other high schoolplayers from 34 countries as announced by NBA and the InternationalBasketball Federation (FIBA) yesterday.This is the latest achievement of Sotto in his bid to become the firstFilipino homegrown talent to make it to the NBA.The ex-UAAP MVP out of Ateneo is already in the ESPN's Top 100 players ofthe 2020 high school class after amassing a grade of 83 from a series ofimpressive HS tournament campaigns in the past months.Sotto copped an MVP plum and Mythical Five citation in two major tournamentsso far this year participated by the top US NCAA school prospects.As a result, he gained massive interest from top D-1 schools like Kentucky,Auburn, Georgia Tech, DePaul U, Georgia and Boston College that could serveas his ticket to the NBA anytime soon.In BWB, Sotto and other campers will have the opportunity to be mentored byex-BWB campers and now NBA players. They are Pascal Siakam from the reigningNBA champion Toronto Raptors, David Bertans of Washington Wizards, LauriMarkkanen of Chicago Bulls and Tacko Fall of the Boston Celtics.WNBA players Ashley Battlle, Ebony Hoffman and Michele Van Gorp will alsomentor the BWB camp with select NBA and WNBA assistant coaches.NBA SCORES FEB 7FINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Grizzlies 26-26    25    19    22    41    107team logo 76ers 32-21    26    32    39    22    119SCORING LEADERSJ. Morant MEM15 PTS, 3 REB, 6 ASTF. Korkmaz PHI34 PTS, 6 REB, 4 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Mavericks 31-21    33    31    29    25    118team logo Wizards 18-32    29    33    30    27    119SCORING LEADERSS. Curry DAL20 PTS, 3 REB, 3 ASTB. Beal WAS29 PTS, 5 REB, 8 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Hawks 14-39    26    29    18    34    107team logo Celtics 36-15    28    26    33    25    112SCORING LEADERSJ. Collins ATL30 PTS, 10 REB, 1 ASTJ. Tatum BOS32 PTS, 4 REB, 6 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Pistons 19-35    24    23    21    33    101team logo Thunder 32-20    29    23    26    30    108SCORING LEADERS    R. Jackson DET28 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST    C. Paul OKC22 PTS, 6 REB, 7 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Raptors 38-14    36    28    23    28    115team logo Pacers 31-21    31    32    20    23    106SCORING LEADERSS. Ibaka TOR22 PTS, 10 REB, 3 ASTD. Sabonis IND19 PTS, 16 REB, 3 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Rockets 33-19    26    29    18    18    91team logo Suns 21-31    46    19    32    30    127SCORING LEADERSJ. Harden HOU32 PTS, 2 REB, 5 ASTK. Oubre Jr. PHO39 PTS, 9 REB, 0 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Heat 34-17    28    22    26    21    97team logo Kings 20-31    30    22    31    22    105SCORING LEADERSB. Adebayo MIA26 PTS, 7 REB, 3 ASTB. Bogdanovic SAC23 PTS, 4 REB, 2 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Trail Blazers 24-29    38    34    17    25    114team logo Jazz 33-18    32    26    30    29    117SCORING LEADERSD. Lillard POR42 PTS, 6 REB, 6 ASTB. Bogdanovic UTA27 PTS, 4 REB, 1 AST