DUTERTE FORMALLY BANS VAPING IN PUBLIC PLACESMANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte has signed an executive order whichprohibits vaping or the use of e-cigarettes in public places in an expansionof his earlier nationwide smoking ban.Executive Order No. 106, signed on Wednesday but made public only on Friday,also prohibits the sale of e-cigarettes to minors, and requires theregistration of such products with the Food and Drug Administration.Establishments that manufacture, import, and sell e-cigarettes meanwhile arerequired to secure a license to operate from the FDA.The latest executive order is an expansion of Duterte’s 2017 directive toban smoking of tobacco products in public places.Duterte made good on his word last year of an executive order after healthofficials reported a case of electronic cigarette or vaping-associated lunginjury (EVALI) in the central Philippines.Over a million Filipinos use e-cigarettes according to the Department ofHealth, which has repeatedly called for an outright ban on vaping.The health department has warned that e-cigarettes are not a proven nicotinereplacement therapy and can cause lung illness.

HOUSE LEADERSHIP COUP RUMORS SPARK WORD WARMANILA — A word war erupted between Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano andspeaker-in-waiting Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco yesterday, just sevenmonths before their supposed term-sharing agreement takes effect.In a chance interview with reporters in Taguig City, Cayetano pointed anaccusing finger at Velasco after learning from 20 congressmen that theMarinduque lawmaker had allegedly been promising perks and committeechairmanships to the Speaker’s allies.“It’s verified that there is an attempt, unless the 20 congressmen are lyingto me,” Cayetano said partly in Filipino.Malacañang said it expected Cayetano to abide by the gentleman’s agreementhe forged with Velasco.Though the Palace respects the House of Representatives as a co-equal branchof government, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said he saw no reasonwhy Cayetano would not comply with the agreement.“So, since there has been an agreement, then, since Speaker Cayetano said hewould comply with the agreement, I don’t think there is a problem,” Panelosaid.He expressed confidence in Cayetano’s style of leadership, particularly whensome legislators questioned him why the chamber has not acted on the renewalof franchise of TV network ABS-CBN.“What he was saying is that, with respect to his leadership, he said –relative to the hearing of franchises – he said if you are in agreement withmy position, then that’s good. If you are not, then maybe there is a needfor change of leadership and he doesn’t mind. That was what he said,” hesaid.The Palace spokesman, however, disputed the claims that Velasco is behind anouster plot against Cayetano.“One of the congressmen there has disputed that claim. He says he has notheard of that,” Panelo said, referring to Rep. Raul del Mar. “Maybe that isonly the perception of Speaker Alan Cayetano.”Since Velasco and Cayetano are both allies of the President, Panelo finds itproper not to meddle into the leadership issue.SARA BACKS FRANCHISE APPROVAL FOR ABS-CBNDAVAO CITY – Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio yesterday expressed support for thefranchise renewal application of ABS-CBN Corp. after her father, PresidentDuterte, accepted the network’s apology over the airing of a 2016 electionadvertisement against him.Carpio cited the significant help ABS-CBN has extended to the city and therest of the country through the years.“Of course, malaki din ang suporta ng ABS-CBN sa Davao City at sa buongbansa,” she said.Carpio hopes that the issue on franchise renewal of ABS-CBN would beresolved in a positive way.She said the President used to host “Gikan sa masa, para sa masa,” a weeklytalk show over the local ABS-CBN station in Davao City.“Alam niyo naman si President Duterte, maawain ‘yan na tao. Iniisip din niyaang trabaho ng maraming empleyado ng ABS-CBN,” Carpio said, noting herfather’s compassionate nature would keep in mind the network’s employees.The House of Representatives has yet to tackle several bills seeking therenewal of ABS-CBN’s license to operate, which expires on May 4.EX-PNP CHIEF PURISIMA CLEARED OF PERJURYMANILA — The Sandiganbayan has acquitted former national police chief AlanPurisima of perjury over his alleged failure to declare his wealth in fullfor 6 years.Prosecutors failed to present enough evidence that Purisima failed todeclare several properties in his Statement of Assets, Liabilities and NetWorth (SALN) from 2006 to 2009 and 2007 to 2014, said the SandiganbayanSecond Division.The court ordered the return of Purisima's bail bonds and the removal of ahold departure order against him.The Sandiganbayan last month also dismissed for lack of probable cause graftand usurpation of official functions complaints against Purisima inconnection with a botched anti-terror raid in 2015 that left dead 44 elitepolicemen.DUTERTE DECLARES SECOND WEEK OF FEBRUARY FOR 'NATIONAL HAZING PREVENTIONWEEK'MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte declared the second week of February as“National Hazing Prevention Week,” stressing state policy of valuing humandignity and guarantee respect of human rights.Duterte signed Proclamation No. 907 and directed the Commission on HigherEducation to lead the yearly observance of the National Hazing PreventionWeek, “with the main objective of strengthening the campaign to end hazingand other fraternity-related violence.”The proclamation was signed on February 21 but made public only Friday.LUZON, CEBU NAMED WORLD’S TRENDING DESTINATIONSMANILA — The Philippines continues to attract attention from theinternational travel community after two of its islands were named amongWorld’s Trending Destinations by online travel platform TripAdvisor.In the platform’s 2020 Traveler’s Choice Awards, Luzon and Cebu rankedsecond and 24th, respectively, in the World’s Trending Destination category.The award is based on tourist destinations that obtained the largest spikesin top reviews and ratings last year.“Travelers are flocking to the island of Luzon, the largest island in thePhilippines, to experience one of the more unique locations in the world,”TripAdvisor said.“This is where the dynamic capital city of Manila is located, but more thanthat, it’s home to some of the most exquisite natural landscapes andbiodiversity on the planet – from vast mountains and dense rainforests toendless beaches and coral reefs,” it added.TripAdvisor cited the National Museum, Fort Santiago and Mt. Pulag NationalPark as among the sites to check out in Luzon.Meanwhile, the island of Cebu in the Visayas was cited for its sun and beachofferings.“From the cosmopolitan metropolis of Cebu City and the white sand beaches ofMactan to the electric blue waters of Kawasan Falls and the whale sharks ofOslob, it’s easy to see why Cebu Island is one of the Philippines’ topdestinations,” the TripAdvisor said.FILMMAKERS ANTOINETTE JADAONE, DAN VILLEGAS ARE ENGAGEDMANILA — Filmmakers Antoinette Jadaone and Dan Villegas, known forbig-screen collaborations, are engaged.The milestone was announced Thursday by Cornerstone Entertainment, whichmanaged Jadaone’s career as a director.“Just before the love month ends! Congratulations to the newly engagedcouple, our amazing directors,” Cornerstone announced on Instagram, taggingthe accounts of the couple.“Love is truly in the air! Greetings from your Cornerstone Family!” itadded.Jadaone and Villegas trace the beginning of their relationship to 2013, whenthey worked together in Star Cinema movie “Bakit Hindi Ka Crush ng CrushMo”. Jadaone was the production’s script continuity supervisor, whileVillegas was director of photography.Their romance translated to joint creative pursuits. They’ve formed afilmmaking duo of sorts, resulting in hits like “That Thing Called Tadhana”,“The Breakup Playlist”, “Never Not Love You”, and “Alone/Together”.YET ANOTHER REASON TO CELEBRATE: SARAH G'S 'TALA' PASSES 100M VIEWS AFTERWEDDING WITH MATTEOMANILA -- She recently tied the knot with her longtime boyfriend MatteoGuidicelli in a secret wedding ceremony.And it looks like pop star Sarah Geronimo has another reason to smile aboutthis past week, as her "Tala" music video on YouTube reached a significantmilestone -- passing 100 million views.The video, released nearly four years ago, achieved the rare local feat onThursday, following the song's resurgence late last year as Filipinos grewobsessed with its dance.It is now Geronimo's best performing music video on YouTube by a mile,eclipsing the 16 million views of "Kilometro.""Tala" was already a hit when it first debuted in 2016, winning a pair ofawards for song and music video of the year.The love song was composed by Nica del Rosario, and Georcelle Dapat-Sy ofG-Force fame came up with choreography.The routine, that spawned thousands of covers, is filled with fun moves,including a fast wiggle as the song enters its chorus that many Filipinostried to nail in their own versions."Tala" was part of Geronimo's album "The Great Unknown."NBA SCORES FEB 26FINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Knicks 17-41    27    19    29    26    101team logo Hornets 20-38    30    26    29    22    107SCORING LEADERS    J. Randle NY18 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST    T. Rozier CHA26 PTS, 3 REB, 4 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Nets 26-31    17    30    37    22    106team logo Wizards 21-36    31    29    21    29    110SCORING LEADERS    C. LeVert BKN34 PTS, 6 REB, 7 AST    B. Beal WAS30 PTS, 5 REB, 5 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo 76ers 36-23    17    27    24    26    94team logo Cavaliers 17-41    28    27    22    31    108SCORING LEADERSS. Milton PHI20 PTS, 4 REB, 4 ASTC. Sexton CLE28 PTS, 1 REB, 2 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Timberwolves 17-40    29    28    38    34    129team logo Heat 36-22    28    32    34    32    126SCORING LEADERSD. Russell MIN27 PTS, 5 REB, 6 ASTK. Nunn MIA24 PTS, 2 REB, 6 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Magic 26-32    23    41    39    27    130team logo Hawks 17-43    27    37    31    25    120SCORING LEADERS    E. Fournier ORL28 PTS, 4 REB, 5 AST    T. Young ATL37 PTS, 2 REB, 11 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Grizzlies 28-30    17    30    41    24    112team logo Rockets 38-20    35    38    38    29    140SCORING LEADERSD. Brooks MEM22 PTS, 1 REB, 3 ASTR. Westbrook HOU33 PTS, 9 REB, 8 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Mavericks 36-23    36    23    29    21    109team logo Spurs 24-33    20    29    28    26    103SCORING LEADERSK. Porzingis DAL28 PTS, 12 REB, 1 ASTD. DeRozan SA27 PTS, 8 REB, 9 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Clippers 39-19    21    33    22    26    102team logo Suns 24-35    29    20    17    26    92SCORING LEADERSK. Leonard LAC24 PTS, 14 REB, 5 ASTD. Ayton PHO25 PTS, 17 REB, 0 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Celtics 41-17    23    30    32    29    114team logo Jazz 36-22    15    36    31    21    103SCORING LEADERSJ. Tatum BOS33 PTS, 11 REB, 3 ASTD. Mitchell UTA37 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST