METRO MANILA TO REMAIN UNDER ALERT 1 UNTIL MID-JULY: PALACE

MANILA — Metro Manila and dozens of other areas nationwide will remain under the lowest level of the 5-tier COVID-19 Alert system until July 15, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

It added the inter-agency task force on COVID-19 has revised the matrix used for determining an area's alert level.

Acting Palace spokesperson Martin Andanar said the 2-week growth rate will no longer be considered in determining case risk classification. It will be based on "average daily attack rates and its current thresholds," he said.

Total beds utilization rate and its current thresholds are retained as the main metric for health system capacity, Andanar said.

"Assignment of Alert Level shall be based on the revised cross tabulation of total beds utilization rate and average daily attack rate," he said in a statement.

Andanar said the areas would be under Alert Level 1 from July 1 to 15, 2022, despite an uptick in the country's coronavirus infections.

DUTERTE UNLIKELY TO FACE COURT OVER PHILIPPINES DRUG WAR KILLINGS

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte often incited violence and ordered police to shoot dead suspects in a drug war that has killed thousands. But analysts say he is unlikely to face charges after he steps down Thursday.

Duterte's signature policy to rid the country of drugs has been widely condemned and sparked an international probe into a possible crime against humanity.

But the 77-year-old is still hugely popular among many in the Philippines who support his quick-fix solutions to crime, and he remains a potent political force.

Last month's election results reinforced Duterte's bulwark against potential prosecution after he leaves office, analysts said.

Ferdinand Marcos Jr won the presidency after striking a powerful alliance with Duterte's daughter, Sara, who was elected vice president.

Marcos Jr has backed Duterte's drug war and signaled his government will not cooperate with the International Criminal Court's (ICC) investigation into the killings.

"The election basically decided that there would not be a serious investigation into President Rodrigo Duterte's role in the drug war for the next six years," said Greg Wyatt, director for business intelligence at PSA Philippines Consultancy.

Duterte told officers to fatally shoot narcotics suspects if their lives were at risk.

He defended the crackdown, saying it had saved families and prevented the Philippines from turning into a "narco-politics state".

"We are not that hopeful but it's worth a shot," said Edre Olalia, president of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers.

Olalia said it can take years for a case to be resolved in the creaky judicial system. And lawyers struggle to gain access to evidence held by police.

A major challenge to mounting a case against Duterte will be the Ombudsman he appointed, said jailed Duterte critic and Sen. Leila de Lima.

"His clout with the present Ombudsman, the only official authorized to file charges against him in relation to the EJKs (extra-judicial killings), survives even after he leaves office," de Lima said in a statement to AFP.

MARCOS CAMP SAYS INAUGURATION EXPECTED TO BE 'TRADITIONAL, SOLEMN, SIMPLE'

MANILA - President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s inauguration will be "very solemn and simple," his camp said Tuesday, about 2 days before he takes his oath as the Philippines' 17th chief executive.

The event will be "very traditional" as per the instruction of Marcos, said Franz Imperial, head of the President-elect's preparation committee.

“It would be very traditional dahil sabi nga ni BBM sa vlog niya, ‘Hindi kami lilihis pa sa tradisyon (We will not veer away from tradition),'" he said in a statement.

Actress Toni Gonzaga - who hosted Marcos’ campaign rallies - will sing the Philippine national anthem, while Cris Villonco and the Young Voices of the Philippines choir will perform the inauguration song ‘Pilipinas Kong Mahal’ a statement from the Marcos camp said.

Imperial said details of Marcos’ inaugural speech has yet to be disclosed but noted that “the President-elect will not be needing a teleprompter.”

Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo will administer the oath of office at exactly 12 noon, the prescribed time under the Constitution, it read.

Marcos Jr.'s inauguration will be held at the National Museum on June 30.

A 30-minute military-civil parade will precede the oath taking, while a 21-gun salute will be fired after the new president delivers his first official speech as the Philippines' top elected official.

An inaugural reception will be held in the evening for officials and foreign dignitaries who attended the new President's inauguration, the statement read.

MARCOS JR. URGED TO ABANDON CHINA OIL EXPLORATION DEAL, FIND OTHER ENERGY SOURCES

MANILA — It would be better for the administration of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to look for alternative sources of energy than to pursue talks on joint oil exploration with China, a fisherfolks' group said, citing difficulties in fishing in the West Philippine Sea.

Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya), a coalition of small fisherfolk organizations, called on Marcos Jr. to “permanently shelve” the idea.

“We attest that this joint venture will institutionalize and intensify the Chinese plunder of our marine resources,” Pamalakaya said in a statement on Monday.

“Everyone has witnessed how China blatantly disregards our legal and political rights over the West Philippine Sea amid an international ruling that invalidated its claim.”

The Philippines has filed multiple diplomatic protests with China over incidents such as harassment of a research ship in the disputed waters as well as a fishing ban implemented by Beijing — which includes waters within the West Philippine Sea — and the presence of Chinese ships operating in Philippine waters.

'NUMBER ONE ADVISER': PHILIPPINE FIRST LADY TO PLAY KEY ROLE

MANILA — The Philippines' new first lady Louise Araneta-Marcos insists she has no interest in joining her husband's government -- but observers say she is likely to hold major sway.

The 62-year-old lawyer, nicknamed "Liza", shuns the public spotlight and rarely gives media interviews.

But she is no shrinking violet.

Tough, smart and used to getting her way, Liza is widely believed to have been the architect of husband Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr's campaign for the top job, after sidelining his influential mother Imelda and older sister Imee, who is a senator.

And Liza -- who did not respond to AFP's requests for an interview -- will likely retain her clout after he is sworn into office on Thursday, according to observers and people who know her.

"Liza is tough, in many ways she's BBM's backbone," said Michael Marcos Keon, a cousin of Marcos Jr and mayor of Laoag City, the capital of the family's northern stronghold Ilocos Norte province. BBM are Marcos Jr's initials.

"I don't think he makes any decision without talking to the wife," said a Manila lawyer who attended university with Liza.

"(She) will be the number one adviser, the number one voice to listen to, the last voice to listen to."

Liza is rumoured to have an icy relationship with 92-year-old Imelda and Marcos Jr's older sister -- both were conspicuously absent from his presidential campaign rallies.

"It's pretty clear she was in charge of the campaign and she does have this personality where she gets what she wants," said one observer.

DUTERTE, FAMILY ATTEND MAYOR BASTE’S OATH-TAKING

DAVAO CITY — Sebastian “Baste” Duterte took his oath yesterday as Davao City mayor, replacing his elder sister Sara, who is now the country’s vice president-elect.

President Duterte led family members in witnessing his youngest son take his oath at the Sangguniang Panglungsod session hall here at 3 p.m.

Also present was Elizabeth Zimmerman, the President’s first wife and mother of Sara, Sebastian and Paolo, the city’s first district representative.

Paolo was a no-show at his brother’s oath taking, and at his sister’s inauguration as vice president last June 19. There were reports Paolo and his family went abroad for a vacation after the May 9 elections.

“If you ever see him (Paolo), tell him his father is looking for him,” the President said during the ceremony.

In her message, the vice president-elect told her brother to make sure that Davao City would remain an ideal place to live, work and play.

“Davao City is a peaceful, sustainable and safe city which I saw for the past three years which I think is the same dream as Sebastian’s,” Sara said.

CUSTOMS, DA OFFICIALS, MAYORS TAGGED IN AGRI SMUGGLING

MANILA - At least three ranking officials of the Department of Agriculture, five from the Bureau of Customs, and two local officials were among those named in a Senate report as the "alleged protectors and smugglers of agricultural products in the country."

The supposed report was forwarded to Senate President Vicente Sotto III on May 17, 2022, or more than a month after the Senate Committee of the Whole ended its investigation on the non-stop entry of smuggled agricultural products in the country.

In the "validated list" included in the Senate COW’s Committee Report 649, the following were accused of being alleged protectors and smugglers of agricultural products:

Undersecretary Ariel Cayanan – DA Central Office

Director George Culaste – Bureau of Plant Industry

Director Eduardo Gongona – Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources

Laarni Roxas – Bureau of Plant Industry-PQSD (Region 3)

 Commissioner Leonardo Guerrero – Bureau of Customs

Raniel Ramiro – Deputy Commissioner, BOC Intelligence Group

Atty. Vener Baquiran – Deputy Commissioner, Revenue Collection and Monitoring Group

Director Geofrey Tacio – Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service

Atty. Yasser Abbas – Import and Assessment

The list also tagged a certain Toby Tiangco as "BFAR products, smuggling protector."

There was also one "Mayor Jun Diamante" followed by the words “all agri products playing in port of Davao, CDO, Cebu, Subic."

Sotto, in a text statement, said he is "saddened" by the inclusion of Tiangco’s name.

"Ikinalulungkot ko pero 'yun ang submit sa akin. Not my list. Pwede rin kapangalan lang dahil 'di nakalagay mayor unlike the other mayor listed," Sotto said.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar asked the public to give the named DA officials the chance to present their side.

"Let the three officials named in the report face their accusers, present their respective evidence to disprove the allegations, and defend themselves in the proper courts," Dar said.

VATICAN INAPRUBAHAN NA GAWING INTERNATIONAL SHRINE ANG ANTIPOLO CATHEDRAL

MAYNILA—Nagbubunyi ang Diocese ng Antipolo, maging ang mga deboto ng National Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, matapos aprubahan na ng Vatican ang kahilingan nila na maging international shrine ang naturang simbahan.

Ayon kay Fr. Nante Tolentino, rector ng Shrine, Abril pa nang matanggap nila ang email mula sa Roma na aprubado na ang aplikasyon nilang maging international shrine ang Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage na isinumite noong Agosto nang nakaraang taon, base na rin sa rekomendasyon ng Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines na isa sa mga criteria para sa pagsusumite ng aplikasyon.

Basehan para maging international shrine ang laki ng debosyon, ayon kay Fr. Tolentino.

Ang Shrine na ito dinarayo maging ng mga taga-ibang bansa na may debosyon sa Mahal na Birhen.

Tuwing Huwebes Santo ng gabi kung saan ginaganap ang alay lakad, ayon kay Fr. Tolentino, nasa apat na milyon ang namamanata sa shrine na ito.

Dagsa rin ang mga nagsisimba dito tuwing pilgrimage season na nagsisimula tuwing unang Martes ng Mayo hanggang unang Martes ng Hulyo na tinatawag na 7 siyam nang nobenaryo.

Kahit tuwing regular na araw marami ang nagsisimba sa Shrine.

Ayon kay Fr. Tolentino, malaking karangalan sa Simbahang Katolika sa Pilipinas ang pagkilala ng Simbahan ng Roma sa bagong pandaigdigang dambana.

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METRO MANILA MAY TALLY UP TO 4,600 COVID-19 CASES A DAY BY MID-JULY: DOH

Metro Manila may log up to 4,600 COVID-19 cases a day by mid-July due to increased mobility and lax compliance with protocols, the Department of Health said on Tuesday.

Public compliance to health standards has declined by about 21 percent, said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

“‘Pag ganito po ang nangyari, we are seeing that by the middle of July, baka tumaas pa ho rin ho ang ating daily cases dito sa National Capital Region from 3,800 to 4,600,” she told TeleRadyo.

The DOH on Saturday said 5 areas in Metro Manila have been classified as "moderate risk", as new COVID-19 cases continued to grow.

But Vergeire said there was no need to tighten restrictions in the region for now.

TARLAC COURT JUNKS CHARGES AGAINST 'TINANG 83'

MANILA — A Tarlac court has junked the illegal assembly and malicious mischief charges against the farmers, advocates and students collectively known as "Tinang 83", who were arrested for allegedly causing damage at a disputed land in Concepcion, Tarlac.

Tarlac court junks illegal assembly and malicious mischief charges against Tinang83.

Judge Antonio Pangan quashed the information, ruling that DAR and not the court has jurisdiction over an agrarian dispute and prosecution failed to allege essential facts on assembly.

In 13-page ruling Monday, Capas-Bamban-Concepcion 2nd Municipal Circuit Trial Court Judge Antonio Pangan quashed the information or criminal charges, ruling that the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and not the court has jurisdiction over a land dispute, citing the provisions of Republic Act No. 9700 or the CARPER Law.

“[I]f there is an allegation from any of the parties that the case is agrarian in nature and one of the parties is a farmer, farmworker, or tenant, the case shall be automatically referred by the judge or the prosecutor to the DAR which shall determine and certify within fifteen (15) days from referral whether an agrarian dispute exists,” the court said in granting the request of the accused that the case should be referred to DAR.

Most of the members of Tinang 83 are farmer-beneficiaries who were issued a Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA).

CLOAs, according to the court, are “sufficient proof to entitle the holder the right to possess the lands and are issued as preparatory steps for the eventual issuance of a certificate of title after compliance with certain conditions/pre-requisites.”

The court took judicial notice that the DAR has issued a certificate of finality on April 2, 2018 ordering DAR Tarlac personnel to immediately distribute the subdivided lots covering 200 hectares in Barangay Tinang, Concepcion, Tarlac.

The complainant-cooperative, Tinang Samahang Nayon Multi-purpose Cooperative (TSNMPC), also claims ownership to the property and is contesting the award of CLOA before the DAR.

But DAR, on June 20, released a revalidated list of farmer-beneficiaries, which, according to the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, proves the farmers who are part of Tinang 83 are the rightful owners of the land.

That CLOAs were issued to some of the Tinang 83 meant the first element of malicious mischief — deliberately causing damage to the property of another — was not present in the case.

The court also dismissed the malicious mischief charge for another reason — the information failed to allege that the act of damaging another’s property was committed “merely for the sake of damaging it” or out of “hate, revenge or other evil motive.”

LTFRB TO HEAR FARE HIKE PETITIONS TODAY

MANILA — The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is scheduled to hear today the petitions of transport groups to raise the minimum fare for public utility jeepneys (PUJ) to as high as P5 amid the fuel price crisis.

Pasang Masda, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP), Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO) and 1-UTAK in March sought before the LTFRB a petition for a P5 increase in the minimum fare which, if approved, could result in an adjustment in the current minimum fare from P10 to P15.

Meanwhile, the LTFRB said Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators ng Pilipinas (LTOP) is seeking a P6 increase.

“Petitioners are expected to furnish the Board with supporting evidence required of them in support of the allegations in their petitions,” the LTFRB said in a previous statement.

The STAR sought confirmation from the LTFRB whether transport groups have signified their intent to attend the proceedings, but the agency has yet to respond.

LPA TO BRING RAINS TO PARTS OF PH: PAGASA

MANILA – A low pressure area (LPA) is expected enhance the southwest monsoon and bring rains to parts of the Philippines on Tuesday, state weather bureau PAGASA said.

PAGASA said the LPA was spotted 305 km west of Dagupan City, Pangasinan as of 3 a.m. on June 28.

Cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms are possible in Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon, Visayas, and the Zamboanga Peninsula, according to the state weather bureau.

Weather forecaster Ana Clauren-Jorda said the LPA is unlikely to develop into a storm in the next 48 hours.

Nonetheless, they are monitoring it closely, she said.

"Iine-expect natin na in the next 2-3 days sa Metro Manila pati na rin sa may kanlurang bahagi pa ng Luzon, Visayas, at Mindanao ay makakaranas po ng mga pag-ulan sa sususnod na 3 araw, kaya pinag-iingat at pinaghahanda po natin yung ating mga kababayan."

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

BEA ALONZO OPEN TO WORKING WITH EXES EXCEPT FOR ONE

MANILA – Bea Alonzo does not seem to have qualms about working with her exes – except for one.

Alonzo made the statement when asked by fellow actress Barbie Forteza during a vlog conversation if she is open to the idea of doing a project with a former boyfriend.

“Depende kung sinong ex. Kay Zanjoe [Marudo] okay akong makipag-work,” she said. “Depende sa ex. Isa lang naman 'yung ayaw kong ex.”

Alonzo, however, did not name who she was referring to. The actress also shared that she and Marudo, who starred in the recently concluded "The Broken Marriage Vow," continue to be friends even until today.

“Kasi kami ni Z hindi kami ugly breakup. Until now we’re friends. It would be disrespectful to our relationship if we ended it badly. Kasi iba kapag may betrayal na factor,” she said.

Alonzo also explained that she is ready to do even a romance movie or TV project with an ex even if it would have parallelisms with what happened in real life because she knows her “limits” as an actress.

“If you’re after giving your audience a good performance, it would be helpful. So, hindi ako takot sa ganun because I know my boundaries as an actor and as a girlfriend to Dom. Alam ko 'yung boundaries.”

Alonzo is pertaining to actor Dominic Roque, who is her current boyfriend.

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 54.78

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

What you get by reaching your goals is not nearly as important as what you become by reaching them. - Zig Ziglar