ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN CONVERGENCE SEEK DISMISSAL OF QUO WARRANTO PETITIONMANILA – ABS-CBN Corp on Monday asked the Supreme Court to dismiss the quowarranto petition Solicitor General Jose Calida filed against its franchiseand that of its subsidiary ABS-CBN Convergence.In a 56-page submission, ABS-CBN and its telecoms unit also asked the highcourt to junk the Solicitor General's plea for a temporary restraining orderagainst KBO, its pay-per-view channel.KBO’s operations is one of the grounds cited by the OSG in its petition torevoke ABS-CBN’s franchise since it supposedly violated ABS-CBN’s obligationto air without fees on a free-to-air frequency.But ABS-CBN said it obtained the necessary permits and authorization fromthe National Telecommunications Commission before it launched itsoperations, contrary to the claim of the OSG.It showed letter-approvals from NTC as well as an opinion from theDepartment of Justice expressly authorizing it to offer pay-per-view.It clarified that when KBO started, it was not part of the free channelofferings of TVPlus, its digital terrestrial service, as it was avalue-added service for ABS-CBN Mobile under Convergence.But when ABS-CBN Mobile folded, KBO continued to be offered on TV Plus onthe strength of the 2018 DOJ opinion which said:“We find it clear enough that broadcast companies can engage in ConditionalAccess (CA) or Conditional Access System (CAS) and, for the same reason canoffer TV pay-per-view services…There is nothing in said provisions thatwould give any impression that ‘commercial purposes’ are limited only toincome derived by TV broadcast companies from paid advertisements.”Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra affirmed this opinion during the Senatehearing on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal at the Senate Monday afternoon.ABS-CBN PRESIDENT APOLOGIZES TO DUTERTEMANILA — Top executives of ABS-CBN apologized yesterday to President Dutertefor failing to air his political advertisements in the 2016 elections, butit was unclear whether the Chief Executive would accept what the Palace saidwas a long overdue apology.“It has been a while since it happened. They only apologized after they werelambasted. It’s up to the President. I don’t know how to respond to that.It’s a personal decision,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said at apress briefing when asked whether Duterte would accept the broadcast giant’sapology. “Dapat noon pa nila ginawa (They should have done that a long timeago).”ABS-CBN president and chief executive officer Carlo Katigbak issued theapology at a Senate committee hearing after Sen. Christopher Go demanded anexplanation on why the network failed to air Duterte’s political ads worthP7 million and, instead, put out a “black propaganda” commercial funded bythen senator Antonio Trillanes IV.The commercial, which also aired on other networks but was later banned by aTaguig City regional trial court, featured children asking whether or not acursing politician is fit to be president.“We are sorry if we offended the President (by airing the Trillanes ad).That was not the intention of the network. We felt that we were just abidingby regulations that surround the airing of political ads,” Katigbak told thepanel chaired by Sen. Grace Poe.The network also maintained that it does not have a political agenda.“Today, we want to make a categorical statement together with our chairmanMark Lopez that ABS does not and will not have its own political agenda,”Katigbak said.He explained that Duterte’s campaign team bought commercial spots – P117million for national ads and P65 million for local ads – for a total of P182million, and the network has a policy of first-come, first served on suchplacements.The ads were ordered on May 3 or just four days before the last day ofcampaign and there were already previous placements from other buyers,Katigbak said, adding that local ads were limited to only two minutes perhour as policy.All of Duterte’s national ads were aired, he stressed.BANGKO SENTRAL MAY CUT RATES 'PREEMPTIVELY': STANDARD CHARTEREDMANILA -- The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas could cut interest rates earlierthan expected to "preempt" the fallout from a global slowdown, an analystsaid Tuesday.The BSP could implement its second 25-basis point cut for the year "possiblyin May or even earlier," said Standard Chartered Asia economist ChiduNarayanan told ANC's Market Edge.The International Monetary Fund earlier this week said the coronavirusoutbreak that originated in China and is now spreading rapidly in SouthKorea and Italy put the fragile global recovery at risk.“We think that the central bank will be cutting rates as soon as possible ifrequired. The governor has been very clear that they are extremely keen toact preemptively in case of negative impact on growth, any potentialslowdown in growth,” Narayanan said.The Philippines is in “good shape” to withstand global shocks as growthdrivers come from the domestic side, he said.HONDA TO 'GENEROUSLY' COMPENSATE PH WORKERS AFFECTED BY SHUTDOWN: TRADECHIEFMANILA – Honda is shuttering its manufacturing operations in the Philippinesin response to a global slowdown and 387 employees who will lose their jobswill be "generously compensated," Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said Tuesday.The Japanese carmaker cited higher production costs and lower volumes in thePhilippines as among the reasons for its decision to shut its Santa RosaCity plant, Lopez told DZMM radio.Other Honda plants in the UK, Mexico, Argentina and Turkey were also closed,he said. The Philippine facility in Laguna produces 8,000 units per yearcompared to 200,000 in Thailand.“Sinasabi nila na global decision, ibig sabihin ang headquarters nila angnag decide nito dahil sa overall pati buong mundo humina rin ang negosyo ngHonda," Lopez said."Ang nangyari, syempre pag naghihigpitan ng sinturon, isasara nila ang medyomababa ang volume, competitive 'yung market at 'yung cost nila ay mataasdin,” he added.Despite the global car sales decline, Honda’s motorcycle business isexpanding in the Philippines, Lopez said.CONGRESS WILL NOT BE A RUBBER STAMP IN ABS-CBN FRANCHISE ROW: SOLONMANILA - Congress "will not be a rubber stamp" of the Duterte administrationas it decides on the fate of ABS-CBN's license to operate, a lawmaker saidTuesday.At least 91 lawmakers have signed a petition urging the House ofRepresentatives to "immediately" hear measures on the renewal of ABS-CBN'sfranchise, according to PBA Partylist Rep. Jericho Nograles, one of theauthors of bills seeking to renew the network's franchise.It was "highly unlikely," however, that the chamber will tackle the issuebefore it adjourns mid-March, he added."We’re excited and anxious to hear the merits of the renewal of thefranchise of ABS-CBN. We generally wish it was sooner than later but again,the scheduling is really up to the leadership," he told ANC's Early Edition."Congress will not be a rubber stamp and members of Congress will be giventhe independence to weigh the pluses and minuses on the renewal of theABS-CBN franchises."The House Committee on Legislative Franchises said Monday it would startaccepting position papers in support and opposition of the broadcastcompany's franchise renewal.WILDFIRE DESTROYS 1,000 HECTARES OF BENGUET FORESTTUGUEGARAO — At least a thousand hectares of pine forest have been destroyedin an ongoing wildfire near Mount Pulag in Benguet.The fire started last Tuesday in the jungles straddling the towns of Kabayanand Bokod.The blaze has spread to Barangay Daclan in Kabayan, according to FireInspector Roy Mayao of the Bokod Bureau of Fire Protection.Bokod has only one firetruck, Mayo said. He said efforts to suppress thefire is augmented by villagers and personnel of the Department ofEnvironment and Natural Resources.No casualties have been reported as the blaze is far from residentialareas.On Sunday morning, another fire hit the jungles in Barangay Eddet,located at the foot of Mt. Pulag.Prior to this, a nine-day forest fire was declared out last Wednesday inBarangay Kabayan Poblacion.The forest fires have left local authorities helpless as the areas were madeinaccessible by rocks falling from the burning slopes and smoke along thetrails.Authorities have closed areas leading to the summit of Mt. Pulag.Meanwhile, authorities in Tublay, Benguet decided not to declare a fireouton its side after an inspection conducted yesterday showed smoke emanatingfrom the forest in Sitio Nasleb, Barangay Ambassador.As of yesterday, firefighters and police officers were trying to suppressthe thinning fire, which could be fanned by the wind.Mount Pulag, the highest peak in Luzon at 2,926 meters, straddles theprovinces of Benguet, Ifugao and Nueva Vizcaya.DUTERTE PICKS NEW PSG CHIEFDAVAO CITY — President Duterte has chosen an Army colonel to head hisclose-in security detail.Col. Jesus Durante III, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of1992, replaced Brig. Gen. Jose Eriel Niembra as commander of thePresidential Security Group (PSG).Durante has been with the PSG since Duterte assumed office in June 2016.He is the fourth PSG chief under Duterte.A member of the Philippine Army’s Scout Ranger, Durante is highly trained onanti-guerrilla warfare, raids and ambuscades.Niembra will head the Army’s 701st Brigade in Mati City, Davao Oriental,according to Armed Forces chief Gen. Felimon Santos Jr.SHEENA HALILI GETS MARRIEDMANILA – Actress Sheena Halili tied the knot with her boyfriend, lawyerJeron Manzanero, over the weekend.The Christian ceremony was held at The Blue Leaf Cosmopolitan in Quezon Cityand was attended by their family and close friends, including Halili’sshowbiz colleagues.Some of the celebrities in attendance include Marian Rivera, JennylynMercado, and Camille Prats, who served as secondary sponsors along withPasig City Mayor Vico Sotto.Maine Mendoza, Katrina Halili, Ria Atayde, Rich Asuncion, Glaiza de Castro,and Chariz Solomon, on the other hand, stood as Halili’s bridesmaids.Also spotted in the celebration were Dingdong Dantes, Regine Velasquez,Jolina Magdangal, Dennis Trillo, and Julius and Christine Babao, to name afew.SARAH G RETURNS TO WORK AFTER TYING THE KNOT, SHOWS OFF WEDDING RINGMANILA – Sarah Geronimo has returned to work just days after tying the knotwith her longtime boyfriend Matteo Guidicelli.A glowing Geronimo showed up at the ABS-CBN compound Monday morning for thetaping of the Battle Rounds of “The Voice Teens Philippines,” where she isone of the coaches.The singer-actress was notably wearing her wedding ring on the same fingerwhere she has her sparkling engagement ring.The celebrity couple tied the knot in an intimate ceremony in Taguig onThursday.The supposed private gathering was marred by controversy after Geronimo’sclose-in detail filed a blotter report early Friday accusing Guidicelli ofpunching him in an altercation after the civil wedding.Guidicelli has already denied this by Geronimo’s bodyguard insists theincident happened.Geronimo, 31, and Guidicelli, 29, first confirmed their relationship in2014, after nearly a year of being a couple.While they are among the most visible stars in showbiz, Geronimo andGuidicelli have largely kept their relationship low profile.NBA SCORES FEB 23FINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Celtics 39-17    19    35    33    25    112team logo Lakers 43-12    28    28    31    27    114SCORING LEADERSJ. Tatum BOS41 PTS, 5 REB, 2 ASTA. Davis LAL32 PTS, 13 REB, 3 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Pacers 33-24    12    20    23    26    81team logo Raptors 42-15    34    29    22    42    127SCORING LEADERSD. Sabonis IND14 PTS, 11 REB, 5 ASTP. Siakam TOR21 PTS, 2 REB, 3 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Timberwolves 16-39    38    27    22    29    116team logo Nuggets 39-18    43    30    24    31    128SCORING LEADERSK. Martin MIN21 PTS, 4 REB, 0 ASTP. Millsap DEN25 PTS, 7 REB, 0 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Spurs 24-32    29    26    18    30    103team logo Thunder 35-22    29    32    37    33    131SCORING LEADERSR. Gay SA14 PTS, 6 REB, 2 ASTS. Gilgeous-Alexander OKC22 PTS, 13 REB, 4 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Wizards 20-35    31    27    27    32    117team logo Bulls 20-38    35    38    28    25    126SCORING LEADERSB. Beal WAS53 PTS, 5 REB, 4 ASTC. White CHI33 PTS, 6 REB, 2 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Pelicans 25-32    29    17    31    38    115team logo Warriors 12-45    33    23    21    24    101SCORING LEADERSZ. Williamson NO28 PTS, 7 REB, 2 ASTD. Lee GS22 PTS, 4 REB, 4 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Pistons 19-40    24    27    34    19    104team logo Trail Blazers 26-32    40    13    27    27    107SCORING LEADERS    C. Wood DET26 PTS, 9 REB, 1 AST    C. McCollum POR41 PTS, 9 REB, 12 AST