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- New Covid-19 cases continue to top 6,000 a day
- Police to counter electronic vote-buying schemes
- Troops on alert for possible ASG retaliatory attacks
- Government, private offices told to honor PhilID
- Metro Manila shortens curfew as Palace sees more lenient rules
- Separate drug busts yield over P1-B shabu
- Duterte: Enforce IATF arrival protocols in Cebu
| New Covid-19 cases continue to top 6,000 a day Posted: 14 Jun 2021 01:49 AM PDT EVEN with 10 laboratories failing to report their testing output two days earlier, new coronavirus infections still exceeded 6,000 in a day for the fifth consecutive day on Monday, June 14, 2021. In its case bulletin Monday, the Department of Health (DOH) reported 6,426 new cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), 57 additional mortalities and 7,145 new recoveries. The new infections brought the cumulative Covid-19 case count in the Philippines to 1,322,053. Twelve duplicates, including nine that were tagged as recoveries, were removed from the tally. The additional deaths, which included 10 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries, raised the Covid-19 death toll to 22,845. The case fatality rate remained at 1.73 percent. With the new recoveries, the total number of coronavirus-positive persons who have recovered went up to 1,240,112, or 93.8 percent of the total case count. As the recoveries were higher than the new infections, the number of active cases slightly declined to 59,096, or 4.5 percent of the total count, on Monday compared to 59,865 on June 13. The daily positivity rate was higher at 13.7 percent out of the 41,244 samples processed on June 12. Ten laboratories failed to submit their data to the Covid-19 Document Repository System (CDRS) on June 12. The daily case count usually goes down on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when the DOH reports the data submitted by the laboratories over the weekend. The data submitted by the laboratories to the CDRS are forwarded to CovidKaya, the DOH's epidemiological surveillance system. DOH's technical team extracts the data from CovidKaya a day after these were submitted and verifies these. The verified data are reported on the DOH case bulletin the next day. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Police to counter electronic vote-buying schemes Posted: 14 Jun 2021 01:32 AM PDT THE Philippine National Police (PNP) is working with the Commission on Elections to come up with mechanisms to counter vote-buying schemes through electronic fund transfer, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar said on Monday, June 14, 2021. Eleazar said they were not discounting the use of electronic wallets in buying votes. "Hindi po malabong mangyari ito dahil nakagawian na rin po ang cashless transactions lalo ngayong may pandemya. Talagang maiisip ito ng mga taong nagplaplanong manghikayat sa publiko na ibenta ang kanilang boto," Eleazar said. "Monitoring vote-buying activities in the 2022 elections will really be a great challenge to us but I assure the voting public that we will put in place safeguards against this practice," he added. Vote-buying and vote-selling are election violations under Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code. Eleazar urged the public to be vigilant and to report to authorities any vote-buying or selling activities. "Tandaan din po natin na ang mga politikong bibili ng boto ay walang magandang hangarin para sa bayan at panay pansariling interes lamang ang pangangalagaan. Oras na makaupo ang mga ito ay tiyak na babawiin lang ang nagastos niya na ipinangbili ng inyong boto," he said. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Troops on alert for possible ASG retaliatory attacks Posted: 14 Jun 2021 01:01 AM PDT POLICE and military units are on high alert over possible retaliatory attacks from the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) following the killing of four of its members, including the brother of bomb expert Mundi Sawadjaan. Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar and Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) commander Corleto Vinluan both said on Monday, June 14, 2021 they were expecting a retaliatory attack from the ASG following the killing of Al-Al Sawadjaan, brother of Mundi Sawadjaan who allegedly architected the August 24, 2020 twin bombings in Jolo. Al-al Sawadjaan, Injam Yadah and two members of ASG were killed in a firefight with police and military before dawn Sunday. State security forces were about to serve a warrant of arrest against Yadah when the Abu Sayyaf terrorists fired at them, prompting the police and the military to retaliate. "I am tasking the local police to go on full alert dahil ine-expect din po natin na posibleng gumanti ang mga natitirang miyembro lalo't kapatid ni Mundi Sawadjaan ang isa sa mga napatay sa engkwentro," Eleazar said. "Sinisiguro ko po sa publiko na hindi po namin hahayaang makapaghasik ng kaguluhan ang grupong ito," he added. Vinluan said the joint PNP-AFP units were intensifying patrolling in strategic areas in Sulu such as the markets, police and military detachments, Christian-dominated areas and densely populated areas. He said focused military operations against the members of the ASG are continuous. "Tuloy pa rin 'yung focused military operation natin against the ASG, especially itong si Mundi Sawadjaan saka ibang supporters niya pero 'yung nakapaikot sa kanya halos ubos na eh," said Vinluan. "Although napaganda naman nitong Covid protocols dahil bawal na 'yung mga gatherings, so yun ang isang advantage ng, although ayaw natin ng pandemic, pero ginagamit natin 'yung advantage na yun," he added. Among the seven Sawadjaan siblings, only Mundi remains alive. "Si Mundi kasi marunong siya e, pinapasubo nya 'yung mga tao nya, siya naman nandun sya tago-tago lang, kung encounter tumatakbo siya kaagad," he said. "Yun din ang sinasabi ng mga nagsu-surrender sa amin na si Mundi, hindi siya 'yung warrior talaga, tago lang ng tago, 'yung sa kanya lang yung makapag-inflict ng casualty dahil marunog siya sa, marunong siya na gumawa ng IED (improvised explosive device)," Vinluan added. (SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Government, private offices told to honor PhilID Posted: 13 Jun 2021 11:33 PM PDT THERE would be no need to present other identifications cards if the Philippine Identification (PhilID) card is presented during transactions in government offices and private establishments. Refusal to accept, acknowledge, or recognize the PhilID without just and sufficient cause shall merit a P500,000 fine, according to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya. For government officials and employees, refusing to accept the PhilID card comes with a lifetime ban from holding any public office or employment in the government, including government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and their subsidiaries. DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said the PhilID already contains all necessary information to establish the identity of the citizen. "Ipinapaunawa po natin sa lahat ng tanggapan ng gobyerno at mga pribadong establisimyento, huwag na po kayong maghanap pa ng iba pang ID dahil ang PhilID lamang ay sapat na," he said. He said the PhilID reduces costs, simplifies transactions, and makes things easier and more convenient. It also improves government services and reduces red tape in government transactions since all pertinent information of the registered person is already consolidated into one system, he added. Aside from personal information, PhilID also comes with PhilSys Card Number (PCN), diffractive optically variable image device, QR (quick response) code, and PhilSys Number (PSN) microprint for security purposes. The Philippine Statistics Authority said 200,000 PhilID cards have been released to its owners while there were 200,000 more scheduled for delivery. Some 35 million Filipinos have finished the registration process, which is being done through house-to-house or online, while 12 million others have completed the on-site collection of biometric information. The government encouraged the transacting public to get in touch with their respective LGUs or register online at https://register.philsys.gov.ph/ to get their PhilID cards. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Metro Manila shortens curfew as Palace sees more lenient rules Posted: 13 Jun 2021 11:08 PM PDT BEGINNING June 15, 2021, curfew hours in Metro Manila as a deterrent to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) transmission will start at 12 a.m. and end at 4 a.m., Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos announced. He said the mayors' decision was based on the lower Covid-19 average daily attack rate of 6.76 per 100,000 population, the two-week growth rate of -16.5 percent, and minimal Covid-19 bed occupancy of 36.3 percent in Metro Manila. The adjustment in the curfew hours signals a possible further relaxation of community quarantine rules in Metro Manila, which Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. also announced in a separate press conference Monday. Metro Manila, or National Capital Region (NCR), is under general community quarantine (GCQ) with heightened restrictions until June 15. Roque said NCR Plus will likely slide down to regular GCQ in the second half of June. NCR Plus consists of NCR and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal. The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases is scheduled to finalize Monday afternoon its recommendation on the risk and quarantine classifications for the second half of June. President Rodrigo Duterte is set to announce the new classifications Monday evening, June 14. Roque said Metro Manila will not likely be placed under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), the most lenient form of community quarantine, because the daily case count remains higher than the pre-surge level. "It is likely na magiging regular GCQ most likely po, pero hintayin nalang po natin (It will most likely be regular GCQ, but let's just wait)," he said. Abalos said the decision to shorten curfew hours was made during a meeting on Sunday evening, June 13, 2021, of the Metro Manila Council, which is composed of all Metro Manila mayors. At present, the curfew is from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. daily. A resolution containing the new curfew hours will be issued later Monday, June 14, or on Tuesday, June 15, Abalos said. "This will give more time sa mga taong kakain sa restaurant, sa mga malls na magbukas, sa travel time, at makatulong ng husto sa ating ekonomiya," he said during the televised Laging Handa public briefing Monday. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Separate drug busts yield over P1-B shabu Posted: 13 Jun 2021 10:39 PM PDT SEPARATE drug busts on Sunday afternoon, June 13, 2021, led to the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of over P1 billion worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said. PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva said the two suspects are both Chinese nationals. He identified them as Zhizun Chen, 38 and Man Kuok Wong, 38. They will be charged with violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 will be filed against them. Chen was arrested in a buy-bust operation at the parking lot of a mall in Barangay Baclaran, Parañaque City at around 3:30 p.m. Sunday. Seized from him were around 38 kilograms of shabu with an estimated street value of P257 million. Wong was arrested in another drug sting in Villa Nicacia in Imus, Cavite at around 4 p.m., also on Sunday. Recovered from him were around 117 kilograms of shabu valued at P795.6 million. The operation was led by PDEA units with the assistance of the police. PDEA-NCR Director Adrian Alvarino said the suspects were using an auto supply and vehicle buy and sell business to shield their illegal activities. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Duterte: Enforce IATF arrival protocols in Cebu Posted: 13 Jun 2021 09:43 PM PDT (UPDATED) President Rodrigo Duterte has decided that the international arrival protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases must be enforced in Cebu. "The President has decided that the IATF protocols must be implemented by the Cebu Province," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said Monday, June 14, 2021, quoting the Office of the Executive Secretary. "The last extension (of the diversion of flights from Mactan-Cebu International Airport to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport) was just in preparation for the full implementation of that decision," Roque added. Still quoting the OES, Roque said the President had considered the Department of Health (DOH) critique of Cebu's protocols and decided that Cebu Province must abide by the IATF policy. Asked on what Malacañang will do if Cebu continues to defy the national protocols, Roque said he was "not aware of what the DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) will do." Malacañang made the announcement about 36 hours after the OES memorandum extending the diversion of flights from MCIA to NAIA expired. The flights were diverted, originally on May 29 to June 5 and later until 11:59 p.m. of June 12, to ensure that the IATF protocols to guard against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) transmission are also enforced in Cebu. Inbound international flights resumed at the MCIA on Sunday, June 13, and Cebu's arrival protocols were enforced again. Based on IATF Resolution 114, international arrivals must go into facility-based quarantine for 10 days and undergo a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for the Covid-19 virus on the seventh day. Even with a negative test result, travelers must complete 10 days in a quarantine facility and spend the remaining four days under home quarantine. The 14-day quarantine is based on the known incubation period for Covid-19 while the seventh day RT-PCR or swab test is based on studies showing that the virus is better detected by this time in case the traveler gets infected during the trip. The IATF recently exempted from this rule those who were fully vaccinated in the Philippines. They will be required to undergo facility-based quarantine only for seven days. They will be swabbed only if they develop Covid-19 symptoms. Otherwise, they will be released after seven days. Cebu Province, however, has been implementing since April 2021 a policy requiring a swab test upon arrival on returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Those who test negative are released from quarantine after a maximum of three days and allowed to proceed to their local government units (LGU). This policy was modified recently to include a second swab test on the seventh day for both Cebu residents and transit passengers. Cebu residents who test negative are also required to undergo facility or home quarantine for the remainder of the 14-day period from arrival in a bid to comply with IATF protocols. The modification is contained in a memorandum issued by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on May 20 and released by Capitol on June 5. This is also contained in the amended Provincial Ordinance No. 2021-04, which the Cebu Provincial Board approved on June 11. Based on the memorandum and the ordinance, the swab test upon arrival is to be conducted for free by the DOH while the swab test on the seventh day will be conducted by the LGU. DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, however, said earlier that the government sanctioned only the swab test on the seventh day. This means that the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, which pays for the testing and quarantine expenses of OFWs, will pay only for the seventh day swab test. Similarly, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, which subsidizes the cost of a swab test conducted on its members and beneficiaries, will honor only the swab test on Day 7. The Cebu Provincial Government said its arrival policy, which it described as humanitarian as it cuts down on quarantine expenses, is anchored on the Local Government Code which grants local autonomy. Section 105 of the Code also provides that the national government may exercise direct supervision and control on LGUs during epidemics only for six months. An extension needs the LGU's concurrence. Duterte declared a state of public health emergency throughout the Philippines through Proclamation 922 on March 8, 2020, enjoining all LGUs to "render full assistance and cooperation and mobilize the necessary resources to undertake critical, urgent and appropriate response and measures in a timely manner to curtail and eliminate the Covid-19 threat." This proclamation remains in force until the President lifts it. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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