ARMY RALLIES BEHIND PRESIDENT’S CALL FOR SPEEDY PASSAGE OF ROTC MEASURE

The Philippine Army (PA) says it strongly supports the call of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for legislators to prioritize the passage of a bill calling for mandatory Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program for senior high school students.

Meanwhile, a total of 122 student officers have successfully hurdled the Command and General Staff Course Class (CGSC) Class 72, meant to provide the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with its next generation of leaders.

In another development, 1,310 donors from various military units and other sectors responded to the call to donate blood, resulting in the collection of 601 blood bags last June 24.

“The PA supports the national defense strategy of our Commander in Chief, which includes the revival of the mandatory ROTC program for our youth. Moreover, the organization trusts the wisdom of our legislators for the program’s revival,” Army spokesman Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement.

Trinidad noted that the ROTC program was anchored on the constitutional provision on national defense.

He also said the ROTC was a crucial part of the military’s long-term reserve force development plan that “instills discipline, patriotism, and nationalistic values in the youth who are considered the future of the nation.”

“The Philippine Army, as part of the AFP reaches out to the youth by providing them with another perspective on nation-building. The proposed revival of mandatory ROTC program will be instrumental in the development of a capable, committed, and well-trained reserve force that will serve as an expansion base for the regular force in times of war, rebellion, or other national emergencies,” Trinidad said.

In his State of the Nation Address on Monday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized the need to renew the ROTC program as a mandatory component of senior high school programs (Grades 11 and 12) in all public and private tertiary-level educational institutions.

“The aim is to motivate, train, organize, and mobilize the students for national defense preparedness, including disaster preparedness and capacity building for risk-related situations,” Marcos said.

In a statement, AFP public affairs chief Lt. Col. Enrico Gil Ileto said the new batch of officers graduated from the prestigious CGSC last June 23 during rites held at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

GALVEZ BACK AS MARCOS JR'S PEACE ADVISER: PALACE

MANILA — Former defense officer-in-charge Carlito Galvez, Jr. has returned as President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr's peace adviser, Malacañang said on Monday.

Information from the Presidential Communications Office showed Marcos appointed Galvez as head of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), replacing Isidro Purisima, who served as acting peace adviser since February.

Purisima, meanwhile, was appointed senior undersecretary at the OPAPRU.

Their transmittal papers have yet to be released to the media as of this story's posting.

Galvez is a retired general of the Philippine Army who also served as Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

He later served as Duterte's peace adviser, coronavirus vaccine czar, and chief implementer of the National Task Force against COVID-19 during the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

The latest developments came weeks after Marcos Jr. picked Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro as his secretary of the Department of National Defense, which Galvez headed for around 4 months.

Meanwhile, Marcos Jr. also appointed Nolasco Mempin as undersecretary and Noel Baluyan as assistant secretary at the Department of Education.

Vener Baquiran was designated as deputy commissioner at the Bureau of Customs.

The PCO added that Aileen Manalo was named acting chairperson and board member of the Board of Trustees at the Asian Productivity Organization (APO) Production Unit Inc.

SENATORS DENY FRESH OUSTER PLOT VS ZUBIRI

MANILA -- Several senators on Monday denied alleged rumors of unseating Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri when Congress resumes session next month.

"Walang ganon na usapang magkakaroon ng kudeta dito sa Senado. The members of the majority are fully supportive of Senate President Migz Zubiri. There is no truth to that, wala namang ganong usapan," Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said.

According to Estrada, no one has approached him regarding any supposed plan to shake up the Senate leadership.

"Walang kumakausap sa akin, at wala din akong kinakausap,” he stressed.

Sen. JV Ejercito also denied the rumor.

"No truth to that! Senators are very much satisfied with the leadership of Senate President Migz Zubiri," Ejercito said.

"In all honesty, SP Migz' shoes will be too big to fill, that’s why I don’t think anyone will even attempt to wrest the Senate’s leadership from him," he added.

Senators Sonny Angara and Robin Padilla were also among those who denied the allegations, with the former saying Zubiri is "well liked."

"Bagama't ako ay bago lang na senador, 'di ko naman nakitaan si [Zubiri] na may kakulangan siya. Wala akong nakikitang dapat baguhin ang leadership. Siguro ang mga beterano mayroon silang nakita pero ako, kuntento sa kanila," Padilla said.

The former action star also added that Zubiri guided him as a neophyte senator, and described him as a "diplomatic" but also "strict" leader.

Padilla and Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go also agreed that the Senate remains independent and "trust and support" its current leadership.

"We currently have a working and independent Senate with a very energetic and consultative leadership which has always made sure that every member is treated fairly and given the opportunity to be heard on matters regarding our function as senators of the Republic," Go said in a statement.

When asked about the leadership talks, Zubiri just had a short response about it.

"I serve at the pleasure of my colleagues," the Senate president said.

PBBM APPOINTS GADON AS POVERTY COUNSELOR

Controversial lawyer Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon has been named by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday as the Presidential Adviser for Poverty Alleviation, Malacañang said.

The Palace said Gadon’s appointment reflects the government’s commitment to addressing “one of the most pressing challenges” in the country.

“He will play a pivotal role in advising the President on strategies and policies aimed at combating poverty and improving the lives of the most vulnerable sectors of society,” Malacañang said in a statement.

But progressive groups led by Anakbayan opposed the appointment, as the group’s National Spokesperson Kate Almenzo said Gadon has “no love” for the poor and oppressed.

The Palace said that Gadon must work closely with different government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders to implement programs addressing the root cause of poverty.

The President believes Gadon’s wealth of experience as a corporate executive and legal counsel in diverse sectors will help in the formulation of sustainable strategies.

Gadon received his law degree from the Far Eastern University in Manila.

The abrasive lawyer has been known for his use of profanities, particularly in a viral video in which he hurled expletives against journalist Raissa Robles.

The Supreme Court suspended Gadon indefinitely over the incident.

He also ran for a Senate post in 2022 but placed 20th, well outside the magic 12 circle of winners.

PNP’S INTEL CHIEF IS NEW NCRPO HEAD

MANILA  — Brig. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. has been appointed as the new chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) in Metro Manila. He replaces Maj. Gen. Edgar Alan Okubo, who is now the head of the PNP Directorate for Police Community Relations. As the NCRPO director, Nartatez will have operational control over the five police districts in Metro Manila. He previously served as the PNP's director for intelligence and has held various other positions within the police force. Other police officials also received new appointments, including Maj. Gen. Jon Arnaldo as the new head of the Directorate for Intelligence and Maj. Gen. Eric Noble as the chief of the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management.

PBBM: PROTECT COUNTRY’S FORESTLAND

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday urged Filipinos to protect the country’s forestland in addressing the problems caused by climate change.

Mr. Marcos stressed during the celebration of the 160th anniversary of the Philippine Forestry Service that taking care of the environment redounds to the benefit of the present and future generations.

The President led a tree-planting ceremony at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources office where he planted a molave sapling at the compound.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Defense Chief Gilbert Teodoro, and Environment Secretary Antonia Loyzaga were also present during the event.

The President lamented the centuries of “mismanaged” resources and people’s neglect of the environment.

“We have had many warnings over decades by scientists and saying that unless we change our habits, unless we change our lack of sensitivity to our environment, there will be global warming, there will be climate change,” said Marcos.

“Unfortunately, we did not listen. And now, we are resigned to the one-and-a-half degrees Celsius increase in our global temperature. And perhaps that might even reach two degrees Celsius if we do not do something about it,” he added.

The President said that the country should be conscious of the importance of the environment as the Philippines is vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

“The world that we have today and that we face is a very different world from what we came into. And the importance of the environment, the importance of biodiversity has become clearer and clearer,” said Mr. Marcos.

The Chief Executive suggested that the answer to this problem is the country’s forestland. He said that the monetization of forest will allow people to preserve the environment.

“This is a kind of new concept being developed so that we can be very clear and make it easy to those who are taking care of our forest lands to feel not only a benefit for doing the right thing but also an economic benefit,” said Marcos.

“I continue to call on the DENR, other agencies, the private sector, and even the public to work together in connecting, preserving, and managing our limited resources,” he added.

TESDA GETS TOP APPROVAL, TRUST RATING IN SURVEY

According to the Pahayag second quarter survey conducted by Publicus Asia, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) ranked as the top government agency in terms of approval and trust ratings. TESDA received a 72% approval rating and a 58% trust rating, with its commitment to providing quality technical education and skills training gaining widespread support. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) saw a slight decline in its approval rating to 66%, sharing the second position with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which maintained a stable approval rating. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) secured the fourth spot, while the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) experienced a decrease in their approval ratings. The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) maintained their approval rating, and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) saw a slight increase. The Department of Health (DOH) witnessed an increase in public approval and trust, while the Philippine National Police (PNP) experienced a decline in its approval and trust ratings. The survey was conducted with 1,500 registered Filipino voters to accurately represent the sentiments of the voting population.

COMELEC SAYS TO DECIDE NEGROS ORIENTAL BARANGAY POLL POSTPONEMENT BY AUGUST

MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday said it would decide on a proposal to postpone the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls in Negros Oriental by August.

Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco told ABS-CBN TeleRadyo that the poll body is expected to arrive at a decision on the proposed postponement when the election period begins on August 28.

"Iyong kapangyarihan ng Comelec para mag-postpone ng halalan ay pumapasok lamang sa election period. So makakaasa po kayo na pagtungtong ng election period po ay may desisyon na po ang Comelec tungkol dito, unless kung magaganap po na pangyayari bago matapos yung aming hearing," he said.

But he also noted that if ever the poll body ultimately decides for postponement, the barangay and SK polls in Negros Oriental need to be held within 30 days from the original date of voting.

Laudiangco was reacting to a manifesto released by 9 Negros Oriental mayors on Sunday, where they expressed support for the postponement of the polls "to dismantle the culture of fear" in the province following the March 4 bloodbath that killed its governor Roel Degamo.

Signatories of the manifesto include Degamo's widow Pamplona Mayor Janice Degamo, his nephew Siaton Mayor Fritz Diaz, as well as Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo and other local leaders allied with the slain governor.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia, along with some poll body commissioners and local election officials, will be holding a series of public consultations and hearings on the proposed postponement from June 27 to 29.

HIGIT 1,000 TRAFFICKING VICTIMS NASAGIP SA LAS PINAS

Ayon sa Philippine National Police-Anti-Cybercrime Group, hindi bababa sa 1,000 katao ng iba't ibang nationality, na hinihinalang pinilit umanong magtrabaho para sa cyber fraud, ang nailigtas sa Las Pinas City kaninang madaling araw.

Base sa inisyal na imbestigasyon ng pulis mayroong mga Filipino, Singaporean, Chinese, Malaysian, at Vietnamese na rinecruit umano para magtrabaho sa “online casino”

Pero suspetsa ng mga otoridad na front lang umano ito kaya susuriin nila ang mga nakumpiskang computer kung may trace ng paggamit sa mga ito sa love scam, investment scam o kaya crypto scam.

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END OF COVID STATE PUSHED

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa has announced his recommendation to lift the COVID-19 state of public health emergency in the Philippines, stating that the pandemic no longer poses an emergency. This declaration would impact the use of emergency funds for vaccines and allowances for health workers. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had previously signaled the end of the state of calamity in December 2022. Herbosa compared COVID-19 to other diseases monitored by the Department of Health (DOH), such as influenza. The COVID alert level system will remain in place. In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted a certificate of product registration for the Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccines, indicating their commercial availability. The DOH reported a total of 325 serious and critical COVID-19 cases in hospitals on June 25. Vaccination progress shows that over 78 million people have been vaccinated, and 23 million have received booster shots.

DOH PLANNING NAT’L ADVISORY PANEL FOR NURSES

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa announced plans to establish a National Nursing Advisory Council in the Philippines to address the concerns of Filipino nurses, particularly their departure for higher-paying jobs abroad. Herbosa intends to issue an administrative order to create the council, which will have a de facto chief nursing officer functioning at the level of an undersecretary. He also plans to propose a law to Congress to legalize the appointment of the chief nursing officer. The council will consist of nurses from the private and public sectors, including representatives from nursing associations and boards. The aim is to address issues such as wages, working conditions, migration, and job security to motivate nurses to stay in the country and combat the brain drain. The plan has been welcomed by the Philippine Nurses Association (PNA). Additionally, Carl Balita announced that his review centers will provide free reviews for nursing board eligibles who are employed by healthcare institutions.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

PIOLO PASCUAL TAKES ON RIVETING ROLE IN HORROR THRILLER ‘MALLARI’

Reflecting on his upbringing, Piolo Pascual recalls the deep-rooted respect he held for priests during his time in a Catholic society and school. They were revered as the guiding figures, with the Rector serving as a pillar of authority. Weekly Masses at school and Sunday services at the church further reinforced the influence and representation of the clergy.

Intriguingly, Piolo reveals a childhood dream that once consumed his thoughts. At the age of 18, he attended the Parish Renewal Experience (PREx) seminar, where he had a profound conversation with a priest. Filled with aspirations for a simpler life, Piolo confided, “I wanted to be a priest. I thought it would make things easier.”

However, fate had different plans. The priest advised him that to pursue the priesthood, he would need to be a college graduate or return to college to study theology. Undeterred, Piolo later embraced Christianity and sought counsel from his pastor, hoping for an alternative path as a pastor.

To his surprise, his pastor recognized the unique qualities Piolo possessed and urged him to remain in the realm of entertainment, declaring, “No, we need people like you in show business.”

Thus, Piolo’s dreams of donning the sacred vestments of priesthood or becoming a pastor faded away, and the vibrant world of acting embraced him instead.

In an intriguing twist, the A-list actor takes on the challenging role of a Catholic priest harboring a dark secret as a serial killer. Titled Mallari, this horror thriller is directed by Derick Cabrido and produced by Mentorque Productions.

After exploring Mallari, reading the script, and uncovering the authenticity behind the character he will be playing, Piolo discovered that the film is based on a real-life story. Intrigued by this revelation, he took the initiative to research Mallari further.

Papa P finds his character in the film intriguing especially that it is based on a real-life story

“I have a great fondness for supernatural horror films and enjoy watching them. These stories have been passed down through generations and are based on extensive research. It’s the enchantment of cinema that truly captivates me, and I eagerly anticipate witnessing the magic unfold during the filming process,” the 46-year-old actor alluding to his decision to do a horror film for the first time.

“This is going to be really hard for me. Physically exhausting, and emotionally draining. I’m portraying three roles but I’m up for the challenge and I’m happy to be given the privilege to be acting in this film. It’s quite an interesting story,” he carried on.

The film promises to immerse audiences in a spine-tingling journey. With hopes of securing a coveted spot in the upcoming Metro Manila Film Festival in December, this film is poised to captivate viewers with Piolo’s riveting portrayal of a conflicted Catholic priest-turned-serial killer.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Those who profess to favour freedom, and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want rain without thunder and lightning. - Frederick Douglass