PH, US EYE 'IMPROVED' VFA - ENVOYMANILA - The Philippines and the United States are in talks for the crafting of an "improved" Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) after Manila moved to abrogate the military pact this month, the country's top diplomat inWashington said Friday.Speaking at a forum in Makati City, Philippine Ambassador to the US JoseManuel "Babe" Romualdez said he and his counterpart, US Ambassador Sung Kim,were looking into the Philippines' defense agreements with Japan andAustralia as possible templates of the new deal."We are now in the process of trying to find ways and means to be able tosee how we can either come up with something similar. Perhaps, again, stillfollowing the President's thinking about the sovereignty issue," he said."It's working quite well for us. We've [Kim] been talking almost every dayand seeing how we can move forward for our relationship with the UnitedStates," Romualdez added.The new "improved" deal will then be recommended to President RodrigoDuterte, who ordered the termination of the VFA after the US visa of hislong-time ally Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa was canceled for stillundisclosed reasons.Romualdez said the VFA may not be the "be-all-end-all" of Manila's ties withWashington, but the Philippines could not ignore a country like the UnitedStates."It is a country that while we have sort of special relationship, we havethe MDT [Mutual Defense Treaty], we have all these things going on, but atthe end of the day, I think anyone, any country around the world will agreethat the United States is a major country that no one can ignore includingChina," he said.As both countries continue to discuss their relationship, Romualdez saidthere' still hope to keep the VFA."From what I'm told the door is not totally shut, as far as it is concerned.But again the bottom line always falls on sovereignty," he said.ABS-CBN CAN OPERATE BEYOND FRANCHISE EXPIRY VIA PROVISIONAL PERMIT, 2EX-CHIEF JUSTICES SAYMANILA - ABS-CBN, the country's leading news and entertainment company, canstill operate past its franchise expiration on May 4 through a provisionalpermit, 2 former heads of the Supreme Court have said.Through a provisional authority from the National TelecommunicationsCommission (NTC), ABS-CBN Corp. can remain on air while Congress deliberateson the renewal of its franchise, former Chief Justices Artemio Panganibanand Reynato Puno said in separate interviews."Hindi naman kasalanan ng ABS-[CBN]. Nagawa na ang lahat ng dapat gawin,lahat ng requirements nandiyan na. Hindi kasalanan ng ABS-CBN na wala pasilang franchise," Panganiban said in an interview with ABS-CBN's KarenDavila on Friday.While it's true that a broadcast network must secure a legislative franchiseto continue its operations as per Republic Act 7925 or the PublicTelecommunications Policy Act of the Philippines, Puno said an NTC permitordered by Congress would allow ABS-CBN to remain on air."In between na pinag-uusapan ng Kongreso kung iga-grant o ide-deny 'yongfranchise ay puwede namang mag-operate 'yong company kung bibigyan ngKongreso ng provisional permit," he told DZMM's "Dos Por Dos" with newsanchor Anthony Taberna on Wednesday.With 2 weeks left before Congress adjourns on March 14 for a session break,Puno said lawmakers from both chambers have ample time to come up with aconcurrent resolution directing NTC to give ABS-CBN a provisional permit."'Yong question ng provisional authority, hindi napakahirap 'yon eh. Hindinaman kailangan mag-conduct ng maraming public hearing. Public hearing do'nsa main question whether Congress would grant or deny the franchise," Punosaid.

PACC CHAIR DANTE JIMENEZ REPLACES ROBREDO AT ANTI-DRUG COMMITTEEMANILA (UPDATE)- President Rodrigo Duterte has designated the head of thePresidential Anti-Corruption Commission to co-chair the Inter-AgencyCommittee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) after Vice President Leni Robredo wassacked from the post.Jimenez was appointed to the ICAD on Feb. 21, according to a list of newpresidential appointees made public on Friday.The post was left vacant for over 3 months after it was briefly held byRobredo.It can be recalled that the vice president was appointed to the ICADfollowing her criticism of President Duterte's war on drugs.At the time, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said her appointment was"was an offer to make the campaign against illegal drugs better" but 2 weeksinto the job, Robredo was criticized by the President for allegedly usingthe post for grandstanding.Jimenez on the other hand was the founding chairman of the VolunteersAgainst Crime and Corruption before he assumed leadership of the PACC.Aside from Jimenez, the President also appointed other new officials andapproved the promotion of several senior officials of the PhilippineNational Police and the Philippine Coast Guard.Among the new appointees is Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary forPolicy Enrique Manalo who was named as the Philippines' new permanentrepresentative to the United Nations.QUEZON CITY OPENS CONDIMENT REFILLING STATIONMANILA - The Quezon City government has opened its first condiment refillingstation to help address plastic pollution.The city's small business and cooperatives development office (SBCDO), inpartnership with NutriAsia Inc., opened its first "Bring Your Own Bote(BYOB) Store" at the city hall compound this week.The store - which is made out of eco-bricks - is a zero-waste facility whereresidents can bring their own reusable bottles and refill them withcondiments such as vinegar, soy sauce and cooking oil at affordable prices.Other NutriAsia products in eco-friendly packaging are also available."This initiative is part of the city's strong commitment to environmentalsustainability," said Mayor Joy Belmonte."We are glad that NutriAsia chose us to be the first local government unitto engage with in this eco-friendly initiative," she added.SBCDO head Mona Celine Yap said the BYOB store is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.on weekdays.The facility also has a drop box for discarded plastic bottles, containers,sachets, snack packs, plastic utensils and other plastic materials.Belmonte recently signed an ordinance that would prohibit single-useplastics and other disposable materials for dine-in purposes in hotels andrestaurants in the city.The measure will take effect in July.13 BABAE NASAGIP SA ZAMBOANGANaligtas ng mga awtoridad ang 13 babae na biktima ng human trafficking saisang motel sa Zamboanga City nitong Huwebes.Ayon sa lokal na National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), noong isang linggopa dumating sa naturang siyudad ang mga biktima na nagmula sa iba't ibanglugar sa Luzon.Pinangakuan umano sila ng magandang trabaho ng kanilang recruiter sa Dubaipero nagtaka ang ilan kung bakit sa southern backdoor sila pinapadaanpapunta sa nabanggit na bansa.Binigyan sila ng mga pekeng dokumento at show money pagdating sa Malaysiapara umano makalusot sa mga awtoridad at sasakay na sana sila ng eroplanopapuntang Dubai.Walang pinirmahang employment contract at hindi rin binigyan ng working visapapuntang Dubai ang mga biktima.Naaresto naman sa operasyon ang 2 recruiter ng mga biktima pero mariinnilang itinanggi na sila ang direktang nag-recruit sa mga ito.Ayon sa kanila, binayaran lang sila ng kanilang kaibigan para tulungan angmga biktima na makasakay sa barko papuntang Malaysia.Sila rin umano ang naghanap ng pansamantalang matutuluyan ng mga biktimahabang nasa Zamboanga City.Matatapos umano ang kanilang trabaho kung makarating na sa Malaysia ang mgabiktima kung saan may ibang tao ding sasalo para tulungan ang mga ito.Dalawang libong piso kada tao umano ang bayad sa kanila.Sa ngayon, nakakulong ang dalawa sa selda ng lokal na NBI at nahaharap sakasong paglabag sa Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003.WEARING ABS-CBN COLORS, STARS JOIN PRAYER RALLY FOR NETWORK'S FRANCHISERENEWALMANILA - Wearing the iconic colors of ABS-CBN, several stars on Fridayjoined fellow employees and supporters of the Kapamilya network in callingon for its broadcast franchise renewal.The weekly gathering, the third since it started, was also attended by othersectors and groups backing ABS-CBN's continued operations.Ahead of the rally, a prayer movement was held inside the ABS-CBN compoundin Quezon City.In a message to employees, ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak said:"Ituloy lang natin ang pagdarasal at ang pagbibigay serbisyo sa Pilipino. Sagitna ng lahat-lahat ng nangyayari, huwag po nating kalimutan ang misyonnatin - in the service of the Filipino.""Maraming, maraming salamat sa inyong lahat. Mahal namin kayo. Dito saABSCBN, family is love. Family is forever," he said.Katigbak, along with other ABS-CBN executives, represented the network earlythis week at a Senate Public Services Committee hearing on compliance withits broadcast franchise.Among the artists seen at Friday's rally were Maricel Soriano, GaryValenciano, Gerald Anderson, Erik Santos, Nikki Valdez, and Elmo Magalona.

NBA SCORES FEB 27FINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Knicks 17-42    21    25    33    27    106team logo 76ers 37-23    26    35    26    28    115SCORING LEADERSJ. Randle NY30 PTS, 10 REB, 5 ASTT. Harris PHI34 PTS, 7 REB, 7 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Kings 24-34    27    34    21    26    108team logo Thunder 37-22    25    25    31    31    112SCORING LEADERSH. Barnes SAC21 PTS, 3 REB, 5 ASTD. Gallinari OKC24 PTS, 6 REB, 0 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Trail Blazers 26-34    24    25    26    25    100team logo Pacers 35-24    30    13    37    26    106SCORING LEADERSC. McCollum POR28 PTS, 3 REB, 8 ASTD. Sabonis IND20 PTS, 11 REB, 4 ASTFINAL    1    2    3    4    Tteam logo Lakers 45-12    24    30    40    22    116team logo Warriors 12-47    24    28    17    17    86SCORING LEADERSA. Davis LAL23 PTS, 6 REB, 1 ASTE. Paschall GS23 PTS, 3 REB, 2 AST