Tuesday, February 9, 2021
Time
Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised. Job 1:21
Victor Borge, the renowned pianist, once told a friend that he could tell time by his piano. The friend wasn’t convinced so Borge proceeded to prove his point. He immediately began playing a resounding march. In only moments there was a noisy banging on the wall and a voice on the other side screamed, “Stop that noise! Don’t you know it’s 1:30 in the morning?”
Borge may be able to tell time by his music, but he can’t stop time. Only God can do that. Have you ever noticed that time is like an unending river, and once your craft is launched on it, there is no turning back, no stopping it? Like a river which may wind through a meadow, there are seasons in our lives when it seems that time moves very slowly. Then there are other times when it seems that the craft of our lives is carried faster and faster through the turbulence of white water rapids. And more than anything else, we would like to slow things down–just for a little while. But we can’t.
Mario Andretti was like that. Remember the famed Italian race car driver? As he talked with reporters before driving his final Indianapolis 500 at the age of 54, he said, “It’s not my fault that the years go by. If I could make a deal with somebody and buy five or six years of this life, I would.” Think of it–trading his millions for just a few more years of peak performance racing.
He couldn’t buy time, and neither could one of the world’s richest, if not the richest woman in the world. As she lay on her death bed, the best doctors in the world at her side trying to save her life, Queen Victoria, whose British Isles were at the peak of their glory, cried out, “My kingdom, my kingdom for an inch of time.”
A strange thing–this entity that we call time. Scientists, philosophers, and theologians strive to understand it, yet at the very time they ponder it, all of them are controlled by it.
I can tell you what you already know: that if you don’t use it, you lose it. I can also remind you that the farther you travel on the river of time, the faster it seems to carry you. We talk about time but can actually do little about it. This side of eternity, time is a fixed commodity, and when it’s gone, it’s gone. God trades neither money nor kingdoms for more of it.
The only thing we can really do about time is to learn to use the moment, to take advantage of what lies in your grasp. The sad thing is that so often when there is a rainy day, people are distraught because they cannot go somewhere or do something.
If there is any wisdom acquired in aging, it surely must include the importance of using time wisely, of saying what you meant to say while the person you love can still hear those words, of writing the letter you have been intending to write while a friend can yet read it.
I used to wonder how just God is in fixing a person’s eternal destiny based on such a short period of perhaps 70 or 80 years, yet we are such creatures of habit that few of us would really change our lifestyles should we live centuries beyond the biblical three-score-and-ten or 70 years.
God has given you today to make preparation for eternity. It’s all part of His gracious goodness. Take time to get to know God, to love Him, and to use this day to glorify Him. Make today count.
Resource reading: Job 2:1-10.
Duterte vows to block ABS-CBN operations if it gets franchise
Duterte says he won’t allow ABS-CBN Corp. to operate even with franchise.
President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Monday night said he would bar ABS-CBN Corp. from using free TV and radio frequencies even if it gets a fresh franchise from Congress.
During a televised meeting on Monday night, the President said he would ensure that the media giant, which is critical of his government, does not get a permit to operate from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
Mr. Duterte said he does not have a problem with lawmakers restoring ABS-CBN’s franchise. “But I will now allow them to operate.”
A House of Representatives body in July rejected ABS-CBN’s franchise application, in what critics see as a grievous assault on press freedom.
Voting 70 to 11, members of the committee on legislative franchises denied the 25-year extension plea, saying the media giant was “undeserving.”
Human Rights Watch said not since the dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos shut down ABS-CBN and other media outlets in 1972 has a single government act caused so much damage to media freedom.
It said the House rejection solidified the tyranny of Mr. Duterte, who had accused ABS-CBN of being biased against him and politically targeted it for refusing to toe the government’s line and criticizing his war on drugs.
On Monday, Mr. Duterte said the network should first settle its unpaid obligations to the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP). He has said the network had P1.6 billion worth of loans in 2006 that the state lender supposedly condoned.
Unless and until the Lopez family, which controls the company, pays their taxes, “I will ignore your franchise and I will not give them the license to operate,” the President said.
Granting the Lopez family a franchise to operate is like “giving them a prize for committing criminal acts,” he added.
Lopez Holdings Corp., the network’s parent company, earlier said it does not owe any state financial institutions.
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) earlier said the broadcaster had been regularly paying its taxes.
Critics have said the issue of ABS-CBN’s franchise had become both personal and political. Mr. Duterte had openly harbored a grudge against the broadcaster.
In 2017, he accused ABS-CBN of swindling after it refused to run political ads he had paid for during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Mr. Duterte had also criticized the broadcaster for airing news stories about his alleged secret bank accounts. He said he would block the renewal of the company’s franchise if he had his way.
“I will not let it pass,” he said in 2018. “Your franchise will end. You know why? Because you are thieves.”
The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility on Feb. 11 called the case against the network a “dangerous attempt to control and silence free press.”
The tough-talking Mr. Duterte had on numerous occasions unleashed a stream of profanity against dissenting journalists whom he accused of bias and unfair reporting.
Journalists have also been targeted by Mr. Duterte’s Facebook supporters — known bloggers with huge followings and who have fiercely defended him and his policies.
Mr. Duterte has slammed media outlets such as the Philippine Daily Inquirer, ABS-CBN and Rappler for criticizing his government, particularly his war on drugs that has killed thousands of suspected pushers. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza
https://www.bworldonline.com/duterte-vows-to-block-abs-cbn-operations-if-it-gets-franchise/
Duterte won’t allow ABS-CBN to operate even if given a franchise by Congress
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he will allow the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to issue a permit to operate to ABS-CBN even if Congress renewed the network’s franchise.
In a televised meeting on government's COVID-19 response, the President said he knew of plans to give the network a chance to use free TV and radio frequencies again after a congressional committee last year rejected the renewal of its lapsed franchise.
The country would keep GMA as the sole TV network.
"Itong nangyari sa itong mga Lopez Group of Companies. Ang Congress is planning to restore the franchise of the Lopezes. Wala akong problema doon kung i-restore ninyo. But if you say that if they can operate kung may --- may ano na sila, no, I will not allow them,” Duterte said.
Several lawmakers have filed bills seeking to revive the broadcast franchise of ABS-CBN, including Deputy Speaker Vilma Santos, Camarines Sur 3rd District Rep. Gabriel Bordado, and Senate President Vicente Sotto III.
Duterte said the Lopezes must first settle their alleged tax liability - a claim that the Bureau of Internal Revenue had long debunked.
“Unless and until mabayaran ng mga Lopez ang taxes nila, I will not --- I will ignore your franchise and I will not give them the license to operate. Kalokohan ‘yan. Parang binigyan mo sila ng prize for their being --- for committing criminal acts," Duterte claimed.
At last year’s House hearings on the ABS-CBN franchise, BIR Assistant Commissioner Manuel Mapoy told lawmakers said ABS-CBN had been regularly paying its corporate taxes for the past years and that "there is no outstanding delinquent accounts as we speak."
In the briefing, the President also cited the issue of the alleged Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) condonation of loans from businesses belonging to the Lopezes.
“Iyong --- ito ‘yung pinagbili ng ano, pinagbili ng Lopez iyong Lopez of Companies kasi maraming utang. So binili nila na lahat --- pati ‘yung mga utang, pinagbili ng Lopez doon sa DBP,” Duterte said.
“Ewan ko, ito bangko ito pero na --- napabili nila ang --- ang kanilang utang lahat doon sa DBP. But after a few years, binili ng DBP uli 'yung pinagbili nila sa... Ipinagbili nila sa DBP iyong pinagbili nila. This time, medyo wala na 'yung mga utang-utang. Condone, kung ano-ano ang nilagay nila,” he added.
However, during a congressional hearing last month, state-owned DBP denied allegations that it condoned or wrote off loans of the Lopez groups of companies.
DBP president Emmanuel Herbosa said there was nothing irregular in the bank's disposal of the non-performing loans (NPLs) and non-performing assets (NPAs) by the companies belonging then to the Lopez Group.
“These NPLs and NPAs were dealt with in the regular course of business and disposed of by DBP pursuant to Republic Act No. 9182, entitled The Special Purpose Vehicles Act of 2002, as amended by RA No. 9343 and other applicable laws, which authorized financial institutions, like DBP to transfer NPLs and NPAs to SPVs (special purpose vehicles) created under the Act,” Herbosa said.
Duterte admitted that he does not know all the details about the issue and that he just received a document about this.
He said he planned to forward it to the Office of the Ombudsman.
"Mayroon akong kulang dito because I am not quite familiar. Ito lang ang akin eh. Dumating sa akin ito in official capacity. Ang magawa ko lang nito is I think I'll pass it on to the Ombudsman. Para sa akin ang Ombudsman ang pinaka- independent body na mag-solve nito,” the President said.
PRRD won’t allow ABS-CBN to operate even if it gets new franchise
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday said he will allow the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to grant ABS-CBN permit to operate even if the broadcast giant gets fresh franchise from Congress.
"Congress is planning to restore the franchise of the Lopezes. Wala akong problema doon kung i-restore ninyo (I don't have a problem if Congress restores it), But if you say that if they can operate, kung may ano na sila (if they already have a franchise) no. I will not allow them. I will allow the NTC to grant them the permit to operate," Duterte said in his televised talk to the people.
Duterte said ABS-CBN should settle first their unpaid taxes.
"Unless and until mabayaran ang taxes (are paid), I will ignore your franchise. I will not give them the license to operate. Kalokohan 'yan. Parang binigyan mo sila ng (That's nonsense. It's like giving them a) prize for committing criminal acts," he said.
On Jan. 5, Deputy Speaker Vilma Santos-Recto filed House Bill No. 8298 seeking to renew for another 25 years ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise.
To recall, Congress was unable to renew the network’s congressional franchise before its expiration date on May 4, 2020.
ABS-CBN, upon the directive of the NTC’s shutdown order, ceased its broadcast operations on May 5, 2020.
The previous House hearings have exhaustively discussed the network’s franchise issues, including the citizenship of ABS-CBN chair emeritus Gabby Lopez; the possible violation of the constitutional limits on foreign ownership; reported labor and tax violations; and other violations of the terms of its legislative franchise.
The NTC on June 30, 2020 also issued two cease and desist orders, directing ABS-CBN to halt the operation of its digital television transmission using Amcara Broadcasting Corp.’s Channel 43 and the direct-to-home satellite transmission of its cable firm, Sky Cable Corp.
Duterte: I will not allow NTC to grant ABS-CBN permit to operate even if it secures a franchise from Congress
President Rodrigo R. Duterte said he will still stop media network ABS-CBN Corporation from operating even after it secures a franchise from Congress until it could settle its alleged unpaid taxes.
During this public address on Monday evening, he disclosed he will not interfere if the House of Representatives will decide to issue a franchise to ABS-CBN since he noted it is part of its powers.
However, the President said he will ask the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to stop the Lopez-owned media network from going back on air.
He pointed out this is because the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) purportedly condoned the loans of several Lopez holdings.
“I will ignore your franchise and I will not give them the licence to operate. That is nonsense. It is like you give them prize for committing criminal acts,” Duterte said.
Ombudsman investigation
Last month, DBP already belied allegations of some lawmakers that there were any irregularity in its disposal of the non-performing assets of the Lopez Group worth P1.6 billion in 2006.
DBP stressed no less than the Commission on Audit (COA) found no irregularity in its handling of the Lopez loans.
Duterte, however, said he was handed evidence stating otherwise.
“I think I will pass it [evidence] on to the Ombudsman. For me, the Ombudsman is the best independent body to resolve this since it involves government funds,” Duterte said.
Last year, the House rejected the renewal of the ABS-CBN’s franchise citing the media broadcasting network’s alleged violations of the law including engaging in illegal contractualization scheme, foreign ownership, non-compliance with the terms of its franchise; and using a dummy company.
The denial of its franchise caused extensive disruption in the operation and revenue stream of ABS-CBN.
It would keep GMA as the sole free TV network in the country.
Guarantee safe delivery of vaccines, PRRD appeals to Reds
By Jelly Musico
President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday appealed to the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing the New People’s Army (NPA), to guarantee the unhampered and safe transport of the Covid-19 vaccines throughout the country.
“I am appealing to the Communist Party of the Philippines. The CPP must guarantee that the vaccines in the course of being transported to areas where there are no city health officers or medical persons, na ‘wag ninyo galawin ang medisina (don’t touch the medicine), allow the vaccines to be transported freely and safely,” Duterte said in his pre-recorded talk to the people after meeting with officials of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) in Malacañang.
Duterte also asked the CPP and NPA not to intercept the vaccines and to observe the rules of humanity “because that (vaccine) is for the Filipino people.”
“As I have said, the money belongs to the Filipino people. The credit goes to no one. Sa inyo ito mga taong Filipino (This is for the Filipino people),” he said. “So natural lang na kayong mga (So it is natural that you) members ng CPP and the allied, NPA, NDF [National Democratic Front) or whatever, kindly observe the rules of humanity.”
In his virtual presser on Monday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Philippines is 100 percent ready for the Covid-19 vaccination drive that is expected to start on Feb. 15.
"Ang sabi po ng COVAX Facility sa kanilang liham (What the COVAX Facility told us in its letter is that), it will be made available, it will come to us by mid February. Kaya nga po ang sinasabi ko, handang-handa na po tayo by mid February or February 15 (That's why I'm saying we are definitely prepared for [the vaccination drive] by mid-February or February 15)," Roque said.
In the same meeting, National Policy Against Covid-19 and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the military and the police will help in securing the delivery of the vaccines.
Galvez earlier said the 117,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines produced by Pfizer pharmaceutical company will be the first to arrive and these will be delivered in one tranche.
It would be followed by the arrival of around 5,500,000 to 9,290,400 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to be delivered on the first and second quarter of this year, he added.
Duterte said if there is no suitable venue for the inoculation, he will order the utilization of public school buildings while face-to-face classes remain prohibited amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Pero kung kulang talaga, my order is to utilize public school buildings. If there is no malaking coliseum or gym, then we will utilize the schools,” Duterte said.
Galvez said many LGUs particular in Metro Manila have already conducted simulation of the vaccination drive.
Duterte won't recognize any new ABS-CBN franchise granted by Congress
The Chief Executive says he will 'ignore' any franchise granted to the Lopez Group of Companies – a franchise he has the power to approve or veto
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's anger at the Lopez family flared yet again as he declared he would not recognize any franchise granted by Congress to broadcasting network ABS-CBN.
"Congress is planning to restore the franchise of the Lopezes, wala akong problema doon, kung i-restore ninyo (I have no problem if you restore it), but if you say they can operate...I will not allow it," Duterte said on Monday, February 8, in a meeting about the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I will not allow the NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) to grant them the permit to operate," he continued.
Last month, Duterte made a similar rant but did not name the Lopezes or ABS-CBN.
Legislative branch vs executive branch
The legislative branch – the House of Representatives and Senate – has the power to ratify bills granting franchises to broadcasting firms. But the President signs these franchise bills into law, vetoes them, or allows them to lapse into law.
Though Duterte has the power to approve or veto any franchise for ABS-CBN or the Lopez Group of Companies, the President instead said he would oppose such a franchise by simply not implementing the law granting the franchise. The NTC, which regulates and monitors franchises for broadcast frequencies, is under the executive branch headed by the President.
"I will ignore your franchise and I will not give them the license to operate," said Duterte.
He likened granting the Lopezes a franchise to "giving them a prize for committing criminal acts."
He repeated allegations that the Lopezes unjustly benefited when the state-owned Development Bank of the Philippines condoned P1.6 billion worth of loans in 2006.
Such a claim was the subject of a House committee hearing on January 18, amid new efforts by lawmakers to give ABS-CBN a fresh franchise. – Rappler.com
https://www.rappler.com/nation/duterte-will-not-recognize-any-new-abs-cbn-franchise-granted-congress
No tax payment, no franchise for ABS-CBN – Duterte
President Rodrigo Duterte said he will not allow media giant ABS-CBN to be given a new franchise unless it settles its tax obligations with the government.
“Unless and until mabayaran ng mga Lopez ang taxes nila (Unless and until the Lopezes pay their taxes) I will not give them the license to operate,” Duterte said in his public address on Monday.
“I will not allow the NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) to grant them the permit to operate,” he added.
ABS-CBN failed to secure a 25-year franchise from Congress last year after the House Committee on Legislative Franchises junked its franchise bid because of the network’s alleged numerous violations. Its franchise expired on May 5 last year.
The country would keep GMA as the sole TV network.
The owners of the media giant had denied allegations that it avoided paying taxes.