MARCOS JR CANCELS TRIP TO COP28, FOCUSES ON HOSTAGED PINOYS IN RED SEA

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. canceled his attendance to the United Nations’ climate change summit on Thursday, a few hours before his flight to Dubai, to focus on 17 Filipino seafarers held hostage by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in a hijacked ship in the Red Sea.

“In light of important developments in the hostage situation involving 17 Filipino seafarers in the Red Sea, I have made the decision not to attend COP28 in Dubai tomorrow,” Marcos said in a tweet.

“Today, I will be convening a meeting to facilitate the dispatch of a high-level delegation to Tehran, Iran, with the aim of providing necessary assistance to our seafarers,” he said.

“I have entrusted DENR Secretary Ma. Antonio Yulo-Loyzaga to lead the COP28 delegation and articulate the country's statement on my behalf,” he added.

In light of important developments in the hostage situation involving 17 Filipino seafarers in the Red Sea, I have made the decision not to attend COP28 in Dubai tomorrow.

Today, I will be convening a meeting to facilitate the dispatch of a high-level delegation to Tehran,… — Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) November 30, 2023

Israeli authorities over the weekend reported that a British-owned cargo ship operated by a Japanese company was seized in the Red Sea by the armed group.

The Nippon Yusen K.K., known as NYK Line, has no Japanese citizens among its crew, the Japanese government said. A total of 25 people are on board and the crew hails from Bulgaria, Ukraine, the Philippines, Mexico and Romania.

The Houthis said the seizure of the vessel was done on behalf of Palestinians who are being massacred by Israel. They said they would target all ships related to Israel and warned that no country's vessels should engage with Israel in the Red Sea.

HAMAS FREES MORE HOSTAGES AS GAZA TRUCE EXPIRY LOOMS

More hostages were freed from Gaza on Wednesday, as mediators raced to broker another extension to the truce between Israel and Hamas hours before it was due to expire.

Underscoring the urgency, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel for talks on aid for Gaza and the truce, which is scheduled to end early Thursday after a six-day halt in fighting.

But in a sign of the challenges facing negotiators, a Hamas source said the Palestinian militant group was not satisfied with Israel's proposals for another extension.

"What is being proposed in the discussions to extend the truce is not the best," the source told AFP, adding that the talks were focused on extending the pause by "two days or more".

Israel's war cabinet was meeting late Wednesday over proposals to extend the truce, media reports said.

As the discussions continued, 10 Israeli hostages arrived back in Israel, among them five women, three children and two 18-year-old men, the prime minister's office said.

In return, according to the Qatari foreign ministry, Israel released 30 Palestinians, 14 women and 16 minors.

It was the sixth group of Israelis, and other foreign nationalities, to be released under the truce agreement brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States.

Another four Thai hostages were also released along with two women, holding dual Russian and Israeli citizenship, outside the terms of the deal.

The release of the two women was described by Hamas as in recognition of the "efforts" of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

HOUSE OKS BILL DECLARING CLIMATE EMERGENCY

MANILA — The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill declaring that the Philippines is in the state of climate emergency.

With 238 lawmakers voting in favor, House Bill 9084 or the proposed Climate Change Resilience Act was unanimously approved Wednesday, just a day before the start of COP28 climate negotiations in Dubai.

The climate emergency declaration stresses the need for the government to formulate measures to stop human-induced global warming, limit its effects, and mobilize funds for climate mitigation efforts.

The bill seeks to create a climate change resiliency and adaptability program, tasked with developing and implementing solutions to adapt to and mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change.

Key components of the program include probabilistic climate risk assessments, a multi-level national educational plan on climate resilience, the link between health and climate change, and ecosystem protection strategies.

Senate bills that seek to declare a climate change emergency in the country remain pending at the committee level.

PHILIPPINE ARMY URGES NPA TO LAY DOWN ARMS

The Philippine Army, meanwhile, expressed their support to the plan to resume the peace talks between the government and the NDFP.

"We view and appreciate the exploratory talks with guarded optimism and welcome this development as it aims to address the issue of peace that shall pave the way to the development of the country," PA said in a statement.

The Army, likewise, urged the remaining members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) to lay down arms and follow the lead of the NDFP.

"While the NDFP pursues peaceful means to resolve and address social reforms, we expect as well the remaining members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army (CPP-NPA) to lay down arms and follow its lead," it said.

"While there is no final peace framework, the Philippine Army would still continue its efforts to sustain the gains in Internal Security Operations by dismantling the weakened guerilla fronts and neutralizing the remaining armed groups," the Army added.

EASED COVID RULES, CHANGING WEATHER CAUSED SPIKE IN FLU-LIKE ILLNESSES: EXPERT

MANILA — The relaxed COVID-19 restrictions and the changing weather could be to blame for the rise in flu-like illnesses in the Philippines, an expert said on Wednesday.

The Department of Health (DOH) said the surge of influenza-like illnesses in the country had already slowed, but cases already reached more than 180,000 as of this month.

There has also been a reported increase in respiratory illness in China.

People should mask up, Dr. Benito Atienza, vice president of the Philippine Federation of Professional Associations.

"Isa pang reason diyan ay yung... kalagayan ng ating sitwasyon na umuulan. Mainit tapos biglang uulan... at saka papalit-palit na klima. Ang tao ay stressed, magpaPasko, maraming iniintindi, kulang sa tulog, sa pahinga," Atienza said in a public briefing.

"Ang mga bata pumapasok, pagpasok ng mga bata, walang mask. May umuubo diyan, may sinisipon, madali ang hawaan. 'Di tulad nang dati, sa pandemic, lahat tayo nasa bahay. Nagma-mask sa labas," he said.

He said the public should also consider having their flu shots annually and they should not wait to get this at the end of the year.

"Dapat ang mga tao, ang kababayan natin, nagpapabakuna... binibigay ito taon-taon," he said.

DOH has said it was on alert for new pathogens following an increase in influenza-like illnesses in the country.

HOUSE PANELS ADOPT ICC RESOLUTIONS, EYE COORDINATION WITH SENATE

MANILA — The House committees on justice and on human rights unanimously voted to adopt 3 House resolutions urging government cooperation with the International Criminal Court (ICC) investigation on the war on drugs of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

The adoption came after more than 4 hours of deliberations by the 2 panels on Wednesday.

Following the adoption, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman got the panels to agree to his suggestion to coordinate with Sen. Risa Hontiveros — author of a similar resolution in the Senate — for a concurrent resolution that would express the sense of the entire Congress.

Concurrent resolutions do not require the President’s signature and do not have the force of law.

House Committee on Human Rights chair Bienvenido Abante of Manila's 6th District, said he believed this could give President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. more room to reconsider helping the ICC with its probe.

Meanwhile, the Marcos administration does not need to secure lawmakers' approval for a possible return to the International Criminal Court, according to former Senate President Franklin Drilon.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has the "legal authority" to rejoin the ICC without the need for Senate concurrence, Drilon said in a statement on Tuesday.

Drilon released the statement after Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa told ANC on Monday that the Philippines needed the chamber's concurrence to rejoin the tribunal.

SMARTMATIC DISQUALIFIED FROM COMELEC PROCUREMENTS: GARCIA

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman, George Garcia, has declared that Smartmatic Philippines is barred from participating in any future procurement, citing allegations of bribery and compromised procurement processes involving former Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista and Smartmatic. The United States government investigated Bautista for allegedly receiving bribes in exchange for awarding Smartmatic the contract for the 2016 elections. The Comelec resolution states that these allegations undermine procurement protocols and erode public confidence in the electoral system. Smartmatic's disqualification is immediate and perpetual, unless reversed by Comelec in the future. Comelec spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco emphasized that the decision is based on Chairman Garcia's directives and is unrelated to a petition by former DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. Rio welcomed the disqualification, advocating for a transparent, clean, and fair election system, proposing a Filipino-created Hybrid Election System. Commissioner Aimee Ferolino opposed Smartmatic's disqualification, highlighting the ongoing investigation and lack of supporting evidence.

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DENR CLEARS 2 PASAY CITY RECLAMATION PROJECTS AFTER REVIEW

MANILA — Work on two reclamation projects in Pasay City may proceed after the environment department found them compliant with requirements.

The Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) earlier said the 265-hectare Pasay Harbor City Reclamation Project and 360-hectare Pasay Reclamation Project "fully aligned" with Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) guidelines.

The two were among the projects that were suspended last Aug. 11 for compliance review.

Environment Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga affirmed the resumption of the reclamation projects during a Palace briefing, saying this went through technical conferences in her agency.

"After they complied with what was required, documentation-wise and then review-wise as well overall. The DENR actually submitted a report and they had in fact substantially complies," Loyzaga told Palace reporters.

"Some of the Environmental Compliance Certificate and area clearance terms were given on certain conditionalities and so we are trying to address the compliance to those conditionalities, not the post but now in terms of the review process," she added.

The DENR chief clarified that all they had to do was "evaluate and assess compliance" but that lifting the suspension would be up to the PRA.

For its part, the PRA said they recognize that the project will affect Pasay City communities and that the agency's lines are still open for any concerns.

Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda this week said the reclamation projects would bring an estimated P563 billion in real estate assets for the government.

DIGITAL TIN ID NOW AVAILABLE: BIR

MANILA — Taxpayers can now avail of their digital tax identification number (TIN) ID, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said on Thursday.

BIR Commissioner Romeo Lumagui said Filipinos with an existing tax identification number can apply for the Digital TIN ID through the bureau's Online Registration and Update System (ORUS).

"With this new system, we can eliminate the practice of fixers and scammers selling TIN online while giving taxpayers a convenient alternative in getting a TIN, instead of lining up at our Revenue District Offices," Lumagui said in a statement.

Users must first update their email address by submitting a Registration Update Sheet via email to the concerned Revenue District Office where they are registered or through BIR’s eServices - Taxpayer Registration Related Application Portal.

Once this has been sorted out, taxpayers can then create their ORUS account, log in from there, and follow the step-by-step registration process.

Users will be required to submit clear photos of themselves to get the digital TIN ID. Uploading of unrelated photos, such as animals, artists, cartoons or other person’s photos, shall be subject to penalty.

The digital TIN ID is a valid government-issued identification document accepted in various government agencies, local government units, banks, employers, and other institutions, the BIR said.

It does not require a signature, and its authenticity can be verified by scanning the QR code on the ID using a mobile device camera.

EIGHT ALLEGED WOMEN TRAFFICKING VICTIMS RESCUED IN LAS PIÑAS

LAS PIÑAS — Authorities on Thursday rescued eight women believed to be victims of human trafficking at a massage spa in Las Piñas.

Las Piñas police Women and Child Protection Unit (WCPU) chief Capt. Esperanza Rioja said they received information that the massage spa in Barangay Pamplona Dos was used as a front to offer sexual services in exchange for money.

One of the 8 rescued women said poverty drove her to turn to prostitution. The 23-year-old said she has a degree in computer programming.

"Siyempre mahirap 'yung buhay. Naranasan naman namin pumasok sa minimum (wage) na trabaho eh siyempre kulang pang araw-araw kaya. Single mom ako," she said.

The spa's receptionist and maintenance worker were arrested by authorities. Cellphones, condoms, and marked money were confiscated.

According to the receptionist, the spa started operating in March this year. She refused to give further details.

The maintenance person said 6 to 8 women reported to work at the spa every day.

The women will undergo psychosocial support and counseling, a representative from the WCPU and social welfare department said.

The owner and employees of the spa violated the Anti-Human Trafficking Law, Rioja said.

WCPU and the local government are conducting an awareness campaign to discourage women from engaging in the illegal sex trade.

160TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY NI BONIFACIO, GINUNITA SA CALOOCAN; TRAPIKO, BUMIGAT

Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin led the program marking the 160th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio at Caloocan's Bonifacio National Monument. Representing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Bersamin raised the flag and offered flowers at Bonifacio's monument, with diplomatic corps members, including Archbishop Charles Brown, in attendance. During the event, Bersamin read the President's message, highlighting Bonifacio's heroism and urging emulation in daily life. Marcos recognized sacrifices for the country by various groups and emphasized living out Bonifacio's teachings. The road closures for the Bonifacio Day program caused significant traffic around Monumento Circle, reopening to vehicles at 9:15 AM. Bonifacio, born on November 30, 1863, founded the Katipunan to end Spain's rule in the Philippines, commemorated with a Guillermo Tolentino sculpture at Rizal Avenue and EDSA.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

JACKIE CHAN, RALPH MACCHIO ANNOUNCE GLOBAL CASTING FOR NEW 'KARATE KID' MOVIE

A new "Karate Kid" movie is in the works, and the producers are looking for the next lead star.

In a video released by Sony Pictures, Jackie Chan and Ralph Macchio announced the global casting search for the new movie.

"We're starring in a new Karate Kid movie together," Macchio said.

"That's big news, but we even have bigger news... We're looking for the next Karate kid," Chan added.

Macchio played the role of Daniel LaRusso in the 1984 film, while Chan played Mr. Han in the 2010 film.

According to Sony Pictures' website, they are looking for an actor to portray "Li Fong".

Interested applicants can send their name, location, recent photo and a short biography to karatekidcasting@sony. com.

SINGING NOT A CHALLENGE FOR CLAUDINE BARRETTO IN IMELDA PAPIN BIOPIC

The Philippines' jukebox queen Imelda Papin is celebrating her 45th year in the industry and producing her own biopic is the best way to cap off the celebratory year.

The movie "Loyalista: The Untold Story of Imelda Papin" was a year in the making, according to Maffy, Imelda's daughter, who clarified that the movie isn't controversial in nature.

"Ang pelikulang ito ay hindi po haka-haka lang. Ito po ay hango mula sa pagiging bata, pag-unlad at pagiging loyalista niya at kaibigan sina Imelda at Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos sa Hawaii," Maffy said.

Alice Dixson played Imelda Marcos, while ER Ejercito gave life to the former president.

Claudine Barretto, who attended the premiere night in SM Megamall Wednesday night, played the lead role of Papin. She further clarified that singing wasn't a challenge for her in the film.

"Meron, pero sobrang konti lang," Barretto said.

SPORTS

PBA COMMISSIONER'S CUP 2023-24

November 29, 2023 (Wed) Araneta

Phoenix def. TerraFirma, 103-84 (23-19, 48-32, 78-55, 103-84)

San Miguel def. ROS, 115-110 (21-32, 53-53, 85-86, 115-110)

NBA SCORES OF GAMES PLAYED ON NOV 28, 2023

Final

1          2          3          4          T

Hawks

8-9

33        28        29        15        105

Cavaliers

10-8

29        35        38        26        128

Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, Cleveland, OH

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

D. Hunter ATL SF

18 PTS , 4 REB , 2 AST

D. Mitchell CLE SG

40 PTS , 11 REB , 5 AST

Final

1          2          3          4          T

Hornets

5-11

16        28        22        25        91

Knicks

10-7

29        24        27        35        115

Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

B. Miller CHA SF

18 PTS , 3 REB , 2 AST

J. Randle NY PF

25 PTS , 20 REB , 5 AST

Final

1          2          3          4          T

Bulls

5-14

20        30        18        29        97

Celtics

14-4

31        38        28        27        124

TD Garden , Boston, MA

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

C. White CHI PG

19 PTS , 1 REB , 3 AST

J. Brown BOS SF

30 PTS , 8 REB , 6 AST

Final

1          2          3          4          T

Bucks

13-5

31        28        34        38        131

Heat

10-8

22        40        35        27        124

Kaseya Center, Miami, FL

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

G. Antetokounmpo MIL PF

33 PTS , 10 REB , 5 AST

B. Adebayo MIA C

31 PTS , 10 REB , 5 AST

Final

1          2          3          4          T

Raptors

8-10

21        23        31        28        103

Nets

9-8

22        30        24        39        115

Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

S. Barnes TOR SF

17 PTS , 11 REB , 6 AST

S. Dinwiddie BKN PG

23 PTS , 9 REB , 8 AST

Final

1          2          3          4          T

Thunder

11-6

29        32        17        25        103

Timberwolves

13-4

19        34        23        30        106

Target Center, Minneapolis, MN

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

S. Gilgeous-Alexander OKC SG

32 PTS , 4 REB , 4 AST

A. Edwards MIN SG

21 PTS , 5 REB , 1 AST

Final

1          2          3          4          T

Rockets

8-7

22        28        38        27        115

Mavericks

11-6

29        25        30        37        121

American Airlines Center, Dallas, TX

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

A. Sengun HOU C

31 PTS , 9 REB , 6 AST

L. Doncic DAL PG

41 PTS , 9 REB , 9 AST

Final

1          2          3          4          T

Warriors

8-10

37        35        32        19        123

Kings

10-6

29        26        40        29        124

Golden 1 Center, Sacramento, CA

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

A. Wiggins GS SF

29 PTS , 9 REB , 3 AST

D. Fox SAC PG

29 PTS , 10 REB , 7 AST

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 55.39

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Everyone should carefully observe which way his heart draws him, and then choose that way with all his strength. - Hasidic saying