MARCOS CALLS FOR STRONGER AFP

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told troops Monday to continue exerting efforts to achieve the peace and security needed to sustain economic prosperity on the 87th anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“My marching guidance has always remained constant: we commit to the cause of peace. The security and stability of the country remain the priority,” President Marcos said in a speech.

“I call on you to continue performing your duties as you have had for many, many years… so that our country can achieve peace and security, and sustain economic prosperity,” the President said.

Marcos said his government remains committed to the AFP modernization and will partner with the military towards achieving the vision of a strong, credible, and world-class armed forces that is a source of national pride.

Honoring Filipino soldiers for their gallantry and dedication, Marcos praised them for keeping the peace, upholding democratic ideals, and defending the country for nearly a century.

“The Armed Forces had never failed the nation,” the President said, noting during the pandemic, it remained steadfast not just in the fulfillment of its duties, but also in assisting the government in fighting the unseen war.

The President also commended the AFP for its successful campaign against communist rebels and lawless elements who impede the delivery of government services, assistance, and infrastructure development.

The military also played a major role in responding to calamities through its humanitarian assistance and disaster response efforts, he said.

He also lauded the AFP for sustaining its existing defense and security engagements while exploring new areas for cooperation with its counterparts overseas.

“New security challenges do not recognize borders and we must continue to work with our neighbors, our allies, partners, and friends to address mutual security concerns,” Marcos said.

“And aside from these partnerships, the Armed Forces needs to have in its arsenal the capabilities to effectively combat threats and to secure the country—all its more than 7,000 islands and all its features,” he added.

CHINESE SWARMS SHOW DISREGARD FOR SOUTH CHINA SEA CLAIMANTS: US

The US government criticized Tuesday reported escalating swarms of Chinese vessels in the vicinity of Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal in the Spratly Islands, which interfere with the livelihoods of Philippine fishing communities.

In a statement, US Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price said the United States supports the Philippines’ continued calls upon the People’s Republic of China (PRC) "to respect the international law of the sea in the South China Sea, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and its legal obligations pursuant to the 2016 arbitral ruling."

He noted that the swarms of PRC vessels "reflect continuing disregard for other South China Sea claimants and states lawfully operating in the region."

The US government criticized Tuesday reported escalating swarms of Chinese vessels in the vicinity of Iroquois Reef and Sabina Shoal in the Spratly Islands, which interfere with the livelihoods of Philippine fishing communities.

In a statement, US Department of State Spokesperson Ned Price said the United States supports the Philippines’ continued calls upon the People’s Republic of China (PRC) "to respect the international law of the sea in the South China Sea, as reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and its legal obligations pursuant to the 2016 arbitral ruling."

He noted that the swarms of PRC vessels "reflect continuing disregard for other South China Sea claimants and states lawfully operating in the region."

DSWD STARTS IP FREE BIRTH REGISTRATION

MANILA — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has launched the free birth registration for indigenous peoples (IPs) that would pave the way for their inclusion in the social protection programs of the government.

DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo recently signed a memorandum of agreement with concerned government agencies during a ceremony held at the DSWD central office in Quezon City last week.

The inter-agency national indigenous peoples birth registration project will ensure that all IPs will have birth certificates.

Aside from Tulfo, the agreement was signed by representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The project will be implemented nationwide to increase civil registration in marginalized communities, particularly those in the indigenous cultural communities (ICCs), Muslim-Filipinos and the poor.

“This project will not only include the IPs in the national registry of birth, but will tap them in building and fostering relationships between their communities and the government,” Tulfo said.

COMELEC TO BOOST INFO DRIVE FOR ‘REGISTER ANYWHERE’

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will ramp up its information campaign for the register anywhere program (RAP) following the low turnout of voter registration at sites outside Metro Manila.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said that although while the turnout is low, they were expecting more applicants in the run-up to the deadline on Jan. 22.

“We need to bolster our information drive, but to be fair, it’s orderly and expeditious,” Garcia told journalists on Monday.

“It’s usually really like this in the beginning. But it will peak in January,” Garcia added.

The Comelec recorded 292 applicants on the first day of RAP on Saturday across eight sites in the country, while 319 applicants were recorded on the second day.

The RAP is being held at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, SM Southmall in Las Piñas and SM City in Legazpi, Albay as well as at Robinsons malls in Manila, Pasig, Tacloban and Naga.

No applicants were recorded on the first day of the registration in Tacloban, while Legazpi logged six and Naga 12.

On the second day, four, eight and 22 people registered in Tacloban, Legazpi and Naga, respectively.

The RAP is conducted every Saturday and Sunday. It will end on Jan. 22.

MAJORITY OF SURVEY RESPONDENTS FAVOR WEALTH FUND CREATION

A mobile phone-based survey found that one in two of respondents who were aware of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) were in favor of the bill creating it, the market research company Tangere said Monday.

The survey of 2,400 respondents conducted between Dec. 8 and 10, found that 83.75 percent were aware of the MIF, which seeks to create a sovereign wealth fund to invest in key development areas.

The bill creating the fund was recently passed on third and final reading in the House of Representatives.

While major business groups and academics said the creation of a sovereign wealth fund was untimely, the Philippine Stock Exchange this week said the MIF could create “a multiplier effect” that could attract more investments and grow the local capital market.

Speaker Martin G. Romualdez on Monday welcomed the results of the Tangere survey.

Martin Peñaflor, CEO and founder of Tangere, said of those aware of the bill, 54.08 percent either strongly support (21.84 percent) or somewhat support (32.24 percent) its passage into law, while 21.34 percent are neutral and 24.58 percent either somewhat or strongly oppose it.

Almost half of those aware of the MIF bill either strongly believe (22.39 percent) or somewhat believe (27.01 percent) that the establishment of funds can be safeguarded from corruption.

More than half or 56.67 percent either strongly or somewhat believe that the MIF would be helpful in growing the economy, and 57.86 percent strongly or somewhat believe that it could help fuel crucial government projects.

With a margin of error of 2.191 percent, the survey had respondents from Metro Manila (12 percent), North and Central Luzon (23 percent), South Luzon (22 percent), the Visayas (20 percent) and Mindanao (23 percent).

GOV'T URGED: USE REMAINING JABS BEFORE PROCURING BIVALENT VACCINES

A health workers group is urging the Department of Health to use up its remaining stores of COVID-19 vaccines before procuring bivalent vaccines to the Philippines.

Alliance of Health Workers president Robert Mendoza warned that procuring COVID vaccines is "becoming a business" as government continues to procure more jabs despite existing stock and high vaccine wastage.

DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire earlier said the Philippines may have lost lost P22 billion after 44 million of its COVID-19 vaccines went to waste due mainly to short shelf life.

"Parang nagiging negosyo...Wag tayo magsayang ng pera natin. Siguro hindi na kailangan ang bivalent vaccines kasi ang current vaccines epektib naman," Mendoza said in a TeleRadyo interview.

"Ubusin muna yan bago bumili ng bivalent vaccines," he added.

Mendoza also confirmed nearly 600,000 of some 1.1 million health workers in the country have yet to receive a 2nd COVID-19 vaccine booster.

He said many health workers are confident with the protection given by 2 COVID-19 vaccine doses plus a booster shot since many health workers are no longer getting sick.

"Tama na siguro yung 2 vaccine na kanilang natanggap," he said.

Mendoza also backed a proposal to distribute booster shots to the general population particularly senior citizens and those with co-morbidities.

"Kahit magbahay bahay, dapat gamitin ito sa tama. Sayang talaga kung hindi ito magagamit," he said.

PILIPINAS, BUMIDA SA 5TH CHINA INTERNATIONAL IMPORT EXPO

SHANGHAI, CHINA - Matagumpay ang paglahok ng Pilipinas sa 5th China International Import Expo o CIIE kung saan nakasungkit ang bansa ng high record na USD 655.15 million sa sales at deals na halos sampung porsyentong mas mataas sa nalikom na kita noong nakaraang taon na USD 597 million.

Ang CIIE ang pinakamalaking import-themed exhibition sa buong mundo na ginaganap tuwing Nobyembre sa Shanghai.

Ayon pa sa Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC)-Shanghai, ang CIIE sales ngayong taon ang pinakamataas na naitala ng Pilipinas sa anumang nilahukang trade expo sa iba-ibang panig ng mundo.

“Our trade and agriculture officials and exhibitors did a marvelous job. This stellar outcome also leaves no doubt about the robust demand for quality Philippine food products and agricultural produce in China’s huge and still expanding market...

There is plenty of room to fill, and the annual CIIE is unmatched as a vehicle for our future promotion and closing those crucial deals,” pahayag ni Consul General Josel F. Ignacio.

Kabilang sa mga nakilahok sa expo ang 62 food at food-related na mga kumpanya mula Pilipinas kung saan kasamang isinulong ang industriya ng kape kabilang na ang specialty coffee ng Pilipinas.

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PHILIPPINES RECORDS 7,572 NEW COVID CASES, 186 DEATHS IN PAST WEEK

MANILA — The Philippines tallied 7,572 additional COVID-19 cases in the past week, the Department of Health said Monday.

From December 5 to 11 , an average of 1,082 daily infections were recorded in the country, which is 9 percent lower compared to the previous week.

Of the new infections during the week, 7 or 0.09 percent were severe and critical, according to DOH's latest bulletin.

As of Sunday, 592 or 10.4 percent of COVID-19 admissions were in severe and critical condition, the agency said.

At least 509 or 20.4 percent of 2,501 intensive care unit beds for COVID-19 patients were occupied. The non-ICU bed utilization rate was at 22.5 percent.

During the past week, the DOH has also verified 186 more COVID-related fatalities, citing late encoding of death information.

As of Dec. 18, the Philippines has 17,900 active COVID-19 cases.

MAMASAPANO CLASH: QUEZON CITY HONORS SAF GROUND COMMANDER

MANILA — The People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) of the Quezon City government yesterday conferred its first ever “Bayani ng Bayan” award on the ground commander of the police troopers who carried out the Jan. 25, 2015 Mamasapano operation, which led to the death of Malaysian terrorist and bomb expert Zulkifli Bin Hir, also known as Marwan.

Mayor Joy Belmonte and PLEB executive officer Rafael Calinisan presented the award to Lt. Col. Raymund Train of the police Special Action Force (SAF) for his courage and gallantry.

Train was the ground commander of the SAF team that carried out Oplan Exodus, an operation that neutralized Marwan and Filipino bomb maker Abdul Basit Usman.

Marwan, at the time, was wanted in four countries – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and the United States – and carried a $5-million bounty on his head from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and P7.4 million from the Philippine government.

Marwan was killed during the operation, but the SAF troops were overpowered in a firefight with the combined forces of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

The clash resulted in the death of over 60 people, including 44 SAF members.

Train, who has kept a low profile since the Mamasapano clash, received the PLEB award during flag-raising rites at city hall yesterday.

“It took us more than a year to convince him to receive this award. All these years, Lt. Col. Train has chosen to be anonymous and under the radar. It is about time that we share his story to the public to inspire patriotism in every Filipino,” Calinisan said.

Belmonte said Train should be emulated not only by police officers, but by all Filipino citizens.

BUCOR: 328 PRISONERS FREED

MANILA — A total of 328 inmates will be reunited with their families this Christmas after they were released yesterday from prisons supervised by the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) nationwide.

According to BuCor, 118 of the released inmates were from the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, 76 from the Davao Prison and Penal Farm, 44 from the Iwahig Prison, 28 from the Leyte Regional Prison, 24 from the Sablayan Prison and 23 from the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm.

Thirteen inmates from the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City and two from the Philippine Military Academy were also freed.

Of the number, 129 were released on parole while 154 had served their maximum sentence with good conduct and time allowance or GCTA.

Fifteen inmates were freed after serving their maximum sentence with GCTA under Department Order No. 953.

Eight others were aquitted, one was granted probation and another was released under cash bond.

A total of 33 senior citizens were also released by the BuCor.

The BuCor said the release of inmates sentenced to life in prison required the approval of Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

'READY NA': ANNE CURTIS CONFIRMS ACTING RETURN IN 2023

MANILA — After taking “baby steps” this year, screen superstar Anne Curtis now appears set to be in full swing when it comes to her showbiz career.

Curtis had her fans cheering Monday as she confirmed that she will make her acting comeback in 2023 — over three years since her last major role.

Curtis was responding to a fan’s tweet asking her to return to drama. The fan included screenshots of Curtis during her recent “Magpasikat” number on “It’s Showtime,” where she portrayed a mother in search of her daughter.

“‘Hi Bye, Mama’ feels,” the actress replied, referring to the popular South Korean drama. “But seriously, wait na lang for next year. Ready na me.”

The simple statement triggered speculation as to her comeback project, with some wishing it would be a series and others surmising a movie would be more in line with Curtis’ priorities, being a first-time mother.

Curtis had been on hiatus from showbiz for more than two years, during which she welcomed her first child, Dahlia, with her husband Erwan Heussaff. She resumed her TV career in May by co-hosting “It’s Showtime.”

Curtis’ last major acting project was the 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival entry “The Mall, The Merrier,” which she filmed during the early stage of her pregnancy.

SPORTS

ATENEO GETS BACK AT UP, RECLAIMS UAAP CROWN

Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) on Monday reclaimed the throne it lost to University of the Philippines (UP) seven months ago.Playing before a packed Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Blue Eagles stopped the Fighting Maroons in Game 3, 75-68, to win the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 85 men's basketball best-of-3 Finals series, 2-1.

"They [my players], are the reason why we pulled this off," said Ateneo head coach Tab Baldwin when asked what it took for the Blue Eagles to win the title back after losing Game One.

"[We had] a great start to the game, a great first half, and we weathered the storm," added Baldwin, sharing the key in the Ateneo Game 3 win.

Charging right out of the gate, Ateneo opened a 9-0 run and went on to build its biggest lead of 18 points in the first half twice, 30-12, after a Matthew Daves putback with 49 seconds left in the first quarter and 41-23, following a Gab Gomez triple at the middle of the second quarter.

The Blue Eagles stretched their advantage to their highest of 20 points, following a Sean Quetevis basket less than a minute in the third quarter, but then the Fighting Maroons began to find their range.

UP fought back and pulled within six, 50-56, following an 18-4 run capped by a James Spencer three-pointer. The Fighting Maroons closed the gap to 70-67, after a 1-of-3 free throw made by Harold Alarcon, where he got his second miss and went on to drain a corner trey in the last 20.1 seconds.

Andrade and Quetevis, however, sank five crucial free throws, with four coming from the former including the last two charities with 0.7 seconds to deny UP the chance of winning an unprecedented two titles in one year.

The Fighting Maroons settled for having the shortest reign in UAAP men's basketball, lasting for only seven months.

Finals MVP awardee Ange Kouame proved to be the rock for Ateneo with 19 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks. Forthsky Padrigao set the tone with his 5-0 personal first quarter run to end up with 12 points, three rebounds, and three assists.

Gab Gomez also put up 12 markers on top of two rebounds, while BJ Andrade punched in 10 points, three rebounds and two assists.

Spencer paced UP with 14 points and two rebounds, while Carl Tamayo got 11 points and nine boards.

Henry Galinato chipped in 12 points and seven rebounds, while Alarcon had 12 points and six boards for the Fighting Maroons, who almost played the entire game without all-around performer Zavier Lucero.

UP sent Lucero, who was ruled out of Game 3 due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus tear, to the floor with less than a second left to shoot a technical free throw.

It was a symbolic gesture for a man to whom his teammates had dedicated Game 3.

The Scores:

ATENEO 75—Kouame 19, Padrigao 12, Gomez 12, Andrade 10, Ballungay 4, Koon 4, Daves 4, Chiu 4, Quitevis 4, Ildefonso 2, Lazaro 0.

UP 68—Spencer 14, Alarcon 12, Galinato 12, Tamayo 11, Cagulangan 9, Diouf 7, Gonzales 2, Lucero 1, Abadiano 0, Fortea 0, Lina 0.

Quarters: 30-14, 47-32, 60-52, 75-68.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 55.41

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

People can cry much easier than they can change. - James Baldwin