https://www.sunstar.com.ph/ |
- Records of anti-drugs drive confidential, Duterte says
- House approves Charter change bill
- ‘Dante’ slightly weakens, moves closer to Eastern Samar
- House approves Bayanihan 3 bill
- Covid-19 deaths surpass 21,000
- 1 dead, 1 missing in Soccsksargen due to ‘Dante’
- Duterte allows vaccine deployment to areas outside NCR Plus 8
- Philippines to donate $1M to Covax
- ‘Dante’ moves toward Eastern Visayas
- Duterte extends travel restrictions on India, 6 other countries
- Cop kills woman during heated dispute
- WHO uses Greek letters to label Sars-CoV-2 variants
- Duterte places 14 areas under harsher MECQ
- Nearly 4M get at least 1 dose, but vaccinations slow down
- Covid-19 cases, deaths in 5 months exceed 2020 count
- Areas with faster Covid-19 case growth face stricter quarantine measures
| Records of anti-drugs drive confidential, Duterte says Posted: 01 Jun 2021 06:20 AM PDT PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, May 31, 2021, maintained that details of his administration's campaign against illegal drugs are confidential, and must remain only with the police and military. He compared the anti-drug crackdown to the government's war against communist New People's Army guerrillas. "This is a national security issue like the NPA," he said. Duterte said people could inquire about general details of how drug raids were carried out and could even observe them from a safe distance. "But if you ask what prompted the police and the military to go into this kind of operation based on their reports and collated dossiers, you cannot intrude into that," he said, adding that he himself has limited knowledge of the drug operations. Duterte made the statement amid calls by human rights groups to open up police records about the drug killings for scrutiny and for him to agree to an international investigation, a call he has steadfastly rejected. On May 25, Philippine National Chief Guillermo Eleazar said they have granted the Department of Justice access to 61 records of investigation on drug war killings, in which the PNP Internal Affairs Service had found administrative or criminal liability on the part of policemen. Eleazar said it would be up to the DOJ whether it would share the information to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR). For his part, DOJ Secretary Menardo Guevarra said they were granted access to the records so they could review the findings and determine whether criminal charges would be filed against the involved policemen. He said Duterte's pronouncement does not necessarily stop the PNP from sharing information with the DOJ. "My understanding of what the President has been meaning is in the light of the ongoing cooperation between the DOJ and PNP, a proper concern should be given to security matters. In other words, not necessarily related to the review of these case files, hindi naman necessarily yun ang tinutukoy, as far as I'm concerned these are criminal matters, more of a criminal nature than a national security concern," he said in a virtual press briefing. "So I suppose that the President really meant that in the general cooperation between PNP and DOJ, much....concerns about national security should be properly addressed. Kailangan mas maging maingat din," he added. More than 6,000 mostly petty drug suspects have been killed and 289,000 others arrested since Duterte launched his massive campaign against illegal drugs after taking office in mid-2016, according to official statistics, which human rights groups suspect are vastly understated. The large number of killings has sparked an International Criminal Court examination of complaints of potential crimes against humanity. Officials have argued that the country's justice system could address complaints of extrajudicial killings by law enforcers and that there is no need for international criminal inquiries. The Supreme Court said in a 2018 resolution that details surrounding police operations against illegal drugs do not normally "involve state secrets affecting national security" like those dealing with "rebellion, invasion, terrorism, espionage, infringement of our sovereignty or sovereign rights by foreign powers." The court said it has a mandate to safeguard the people's constitutional right to information on pressing issues. "The undeniable fact that thousands of ordinary citizens have been killed, and continue to be killed, during police drug operations certainly is a matter of grave public concern," the court said. Duterte acknowledged that the anti-drug crackdown has left many dead and warned that "many more will die." But he repeated that there was no government policy condoning extrajudicial killings and added that some of the killings of drug dealers were carried out by syndicates to eliminate potential government informants. "My policemen and my army are trained to kill," he said, but added, "they are not allowed to kill a man kneeling down or with his back turned." The tough-talking leader repeated his death threats to drug lords preying on young Filipinos. "If I am there, I will really kill you. I don't care if there's TV around. I will really kill you," he said. Rights groups have warned that such remarks by the President have fostered a culture of impunity in the police force, which Duterte once called "corrupt to the core," and have emboldened law enforcers to commit abuses. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo and AP)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| House approves Charter change bill Posted: 01 Jun 2021 05:22 AM PDT (UPDATED) A joint resolution proposing amendments to the Constitution was approved on third and final reading in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. Resolution of Both Houses 2 received 251 affirmative votes, 21 negative votes and two abstentions. This and the Bayanihan 3 bill were among 18 measures that the House approved on Tuesday, a day before its sine die adjournment. This measure seeks to amend economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution which lawmakers said have hampered the flow of foreign capital investments into the country. Specifically, the measure proposes to insert the phrase "unless otherwise provided by law" in Sections 2, 3, 7, 10 and 11 of Article XII (National Patrimony and Economy), Section 4 of Article XIV (Education, Science, Technology, Arts, Culture, and Sports), and Section 11 of Article XVI (General Provisions). These provisions restrict foreign ownership of public utilities, educational institutions, media and advertising companies. The proposed amendment would pave the way for Congress to legislate measures that remove the restrictions and open up these sectors to foreign ownership. House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, in a statement Tuesday evening, said the proposed constitutional amendment is "meant to free up the economy to foreign investors as the needs of the times dictate." "As global economies slowly bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Philippines must be ready to ride the wave or risk being left behind by its Asian neighbors," he said. A joint resolution, like a bill, requires the approval of both houses and the signature of the President. It has the force and effect of a law if approved. Velasco said he hoped the Senate would approve the measure so that it can be presented for ratification during the 2022 elections. "We hope our colleagues in the Senate will see the wisdom in this measure, and allow Congress to present it to the public for ratification alongside the election of new leaders in the 2022 national elections," he said. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| ‘Dante’ slightly weakens, moves closer to Eastern Samar Posted: 01 Jun 2021 04:28 AM PDT TROPICAL Storm Dante (Choi-wan) slightly weakened as it moved north northwest toward Easter Samar, where it was expected to make landfall either Tuesday night (June 1) or early Wednesday morning (June 2). As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 1, the center of Dante was located at 85 kilometers east northeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, or 110 kilometers east southeast of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). It said Dante was packing maximum winds of 65 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center, gusts of up to 80 km/h, and central pressure of 998 hPa. It was moving north northwestward at 25 km/h. Pagasa said the gale-force winds brought by Dante may extend outward up to 100 kilometers from the storm's center. Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 2 remained hoisted over Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, southern portion of Camarines Norte (San Lorenzo Ruiz, San Vicente, Talisay, Daet, Basud, Mercedes), Masbate including Ticao and Burias Island, Albay and Sorsogon in Luzon; and Eastern Samar, Samar, Northern Samar, Biliran, and the northeastern portion of Leyte (Carigara, Barugo, San Miguel, Babatngon, Tacloban City, Alangalang, Tunga, Santa Fe, Palo) in the Visayas. TCWS Number 1 was raised over the following areas: LUZON Rizal, Laguna, the southeastern portion of Batangas (Lobo, San Juan, Rosario, Taysan, City of Tanauan, Santo Tomas, Malvar, Lipa City, Padre Garcia, Ibaan, Batangas City, Balete, Mataasnakahoy, San Jose), Quezon including Polillo Islands, the rest of Camarines Norte, Marinduque, and Romblon VISAYAS The northeastern portion of Aklan (Lezo, Numancia, Banga, Kalibo, New Washington, Balete, Batan, Altavas, Makato, Tangalan), the northeastern portion of Capiz (Mambusao, Sapi-An, Ivisan, Roxas City, Panitan, Sigma, Panay, Pontevedra, President Roxas, Pilar, Ma-Ayon, Dao, Cuartero), the northeastern portion of Iloilo (Sara, San Dionisio, Batad, Estancia, Balasan, Carles, Lemery, Ajuy, Concepcion), the northeastern portion of Negros Occidental (Manapla, Cadiz City, Sagay City, City of Escalante, Toboso, City of Victorias, Calatrava), the northern portion of Cebu (Balamban, Asturias, Tuburan, Tabuelan, Sogod, San Remigio, City of Bogo, Borbon, Tabogon, Bantayan Islands, Daanbantayan, Medellin, Catmon, Danao City, Carmen, Compostela, Cebu City, Liloan, Consolacion, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Cordova), the northeastern potion of Bohol (Getafe, Talibon, Trinidad, Bien Unido, Ubay, San Miguel, Alicia, Buenavista, Mabini, Candijay, Anda, Inabanga, Guindulman, Dagohoy, Pilar, Danao, Pres. Carlos P. Garcia), the rest of Leyte and Southern Leyte MINDANAO Surigao del Norte including Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands, Dinagat Island, the northern portion of Agusan del Norte (Kitcharao, Jabonga, Santiago, Tubay, City of Cabadbaran, Magallanes, Remedios T. Romualdez, Butuan City), the northern portion of Agusan del Sur (Sibagat), and the northern portion of Surigao del Sur (San Miguel, Tago, City of Tandag, Cortes, Lanuza, Carmen, Madrid, Cantilan, Carrascal) Pagasa has lifted TCWS 1 in other areas in the country. The weather bureau said Dante will continue to move generally northwestward until Wednesday evening, June 2. The center of the tropical storm was forecast to make its initial landfall over Eastern Samar between Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning and Pagasa said Dante is more likely to remain as a tropical storm category prior to landfall. Dante may also weaken into a tropical depression on Thursday, June 3, and to low pressure area on June 5, Pagasa said. It also said that the tropical storm will bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Masbate, and Romblon, and moderate to heavy rains over Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Camiguin, Samar, Bohol, the northern portion of Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, Capiz, Iloilo, Sorsogon, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Marinduque, and the southern portion of Quezon. Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are also likely over Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Catanduanes, and the rest of Visayas. "Under these conditions and considering antecedent rainfall, scattered flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides are highly likely, especially in areas with high or very high susceptibility to these hazards as identified in hazard maps. Adjacent or nearby areas may also experience flooding in the absence of such rainfall occurrence due to surface runoff or swelling of river channels," said Pagasa. The storm will also bring strong winds to gale-force winds over the areas where TCWS 2 is hoisted, and strong winds (strong breeze to near gale), which may cause generally very light damage to structures and vegetation, in areas where TCWS 1 is in effect. "In the next 24 hours, rough to very rough seas will be experienced over the seaboards of areas where TCWS 2 is in effect, and the eastern seaboard of Caraga," Pagasa said. Moderate to rough seas are also expected over the eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental and the remaining seaboards of areas where TCWS 1 is in effect, it added. (LMY)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| House approves Bayanihan 3 bill Posted: 01 Jun 2021 04:09 AM PDT VOTING 238-0 with one abstention on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, the House of Representatives approved on final reading the proposed Bayanihan 3 Act. House Bill 9411, or the proposed Bayanihan to Arise As One Act, sets aside P401 billion for additional interventions to accelerate the recovery of the economy from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. Its centerpiece is the P216-billion funding for two rounds of cash aid worth P2,000 to be given to each of the 108 million Filipinos regardless of age and economic status. House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, one of the authors, said the bill also contains allocations for wage subsidies, emergency assistance to quarantine-affected households, assistance to displaced workers, national nutrition, financial assistance to agri-fishery sector and cooperatives, medical assistance to indigents, local government support, free Covid testing for seafarers and other overseas Filipino workers, pension and gratuity fund for retired military and uniformed personnel, and support to basic and higher education. Velasco said members of the House set aside politics and crossed party lines to approve the measure. "The approval of Bayanihan 3 is historical moment in the legislative process in this chamber as this measure has been co-authored by almost all of its members," he said in a statement. The measure is authored by almost all 300 members of the House. "This P401-billion lifeline measure outlines additional interventions to ensure that our kababayans are provided direct emergency and social amelioration, have sustainable sources of income, and have stable access to affordable food and quality health services despite the impact of the Covid-19 crisis," Velasco said. The House also approved HB 9061, or the proposed Physician's Act, with a vote of 236-6 and zero abstentions. HB 9072, or the proposed Free Annual Medical Check-up Act, was likewise approved with 245 affirmative votes and zero negative votes. These measures, along with the Resolution of Both Houses No. 2 on the proposed constitutional amendment, were among the 18 bills that the House approved on Tuesday evening, a day before its sine die adjournment. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Covid-19 deaths surpass 21,000 Posted: 01 Jun 2021 02:07 AM PDT THE Department of Health on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, reported more than 5,000 new coronavirus infections for the seventh day in a row and an additional 46 deaths, the lowest in seven days but enough to bring the Covid-19 death toll past 21,000. In its case bulletin Tuesday, DOH recorded 5,177 new cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), bringing the cumulative case count to 1,235,467. Eleven duplicates were removed. The additional mortalities, including 15 that were previously tagged as recoveries, raised the death toll to 21,012, breaching 21,000 just seven days after surpassing 20,000 on May 25. The case fatality rate remained at 1.7 percent. There were 6,230 new recoveries, pushing the total to 1,161,252, or 94 percent of the total case count. With recoveries higher than the new infections, the number of active cases decreased to 53,203, or 4.3 percent of the total. Testing output was low at 36,978 on May 30 as 10 laboratories were unable to submit their data to the Covid-19 Document Repository System. The positivity rate was lower at 11.7 percent, but was still more than double the World Health Organization benchmark of 5.0 percent. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 1 dead, 1 missing in Soccsksargen due to ‘Dante’ Posted: 01 Jun 2021 01:37 AM PDT ONE person was killed and another went missing in Soccsksargen as Tropical Storm Dante swept through the Visayas and Mindanao, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. A total of 160 families, or 612 persons, were affected in nine barangays in Davao Region, where the incessant rains brought by the storm caused flooding. The NDRRMC report said 158 families or 604 persons are taking shelter in 10 evacuation centers. At least three bridges were rendered impassable in Banga, South Cotabato due to flooding. Two landslide incidents and two flashfloods were reported in Cotabato. As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, Tropical Storm Dante was moving toward Eastern Visayas. It was packing with maximum sustained winds of 75 kilometers per hour near the center with gustiness of 90 kilometers per hour. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Duterte allows vaccine deployment to areas outside NCR Plus 8 Posted: 01 Jun 2021 01:14 AM PDT PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, May 31, 2021, instructed vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. to equally distribute vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) to areas outside the NCR Plus 8 focus area. "I am directing Secretary Galvez to make a distribution parang pro rata, hindi naman lahat pero mabigyan 'yong ibang... starting Iloilo, Zamboanga, Cagayan, Butuan, mabigyan lahat ang ano... Surigao, then you go up to Leyte, Samar," Duterte said during his weekly public address Monday night. "Paghati-hatian natin ito tutal most of the...the bulk of the people of the NCR mayroon na ho silang bakuna. Kung magdating 'yong sunod na marami, eh you divide it amongst the local government units. Sana magawa ito sa madaling panahon," he added. The government's Covid-19 vaccination program is currently focused on protecting the vulnerable population in NCR Plus 8, which are major urban centers and epidemic hotspots. This consists of the National Capital Region, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga, Laguna, Batangas and Rizal. Because there are still not enough vaccines, Galvez's game plan is to achieve herd immunity in the NCR Plus 8 first. The government is vaccinating the vulnerable sectors first, namely, health workers (Priority Group A1), senior citizens (A2) and persons with comorbidities (A3). Group A1 also includes the mayors and governors, and when more vaccines arrive, the immediate family members of health workers. Duterte also called on local government units (LGUs) to devise a system that will expedite inoculations and so that vaccine recipients don't have to stay in line for hours. "Huwag mong pahirapan 'yong tao na palinyahin ninyo. Either the day before magbigay kayo ng mga card. Simple lang naman 'yan, may number ano 'yong card. So 'yong 100 ngayong araw na 'to, 101, 102, eh kung sinong gustong magpabakuna, lumapit doon. Dito sa isang mesa, this is where you get the names, ibigay mo 'yong card. Then do it in such a way na you are there 15 minutes earlier para maghintay na lang to expedite the vaccination of people," he said. Meanwhile, Duterte vowed that those selling vaccination slots, including LGU officials, will be criminally charged. He commended Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Benhur Abalos and his wife, Mandaluyong Mayor Menchie Abalos, for acting quickly on the report that a certain Kyle Bonifacio was promising vaccination slots in exchange for P12,000 to P15,000. Bonifacio surrendered to the Abalos couple, saying he wanted to clear his name and that the money he had received to voluntarily given to him. Duterte reiterated that the vaccines are free. "Libre 'yan. Huwag kayong magbayad. Wala kayong gastusin niyan," he said. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Philippines to donate $1M to Covax Posted: 01 Jun 2021 12:08 AM PDT THE Philippines will donate $1 million to Covax, the global facility for equitable access to vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Monday, May 31, 2021. "Itong binibigay ng Covax sa atin marami at ngayon, bumawi naman sila na nagkukulang na 'yong pera nila to help other countries, maybe including the Philippines, and they are asking for contributions para makabili pa sila, to keep the operation running because they --- well, probably are running low of funds also, and they have asked the Philippines formally for a donation," Duterte said during his weekly public address. "Magko-contribute po ako kasi napakabuti ng Covax sa atin. At the time we needed it most, one of the earliest agencies to help us aside from the contributions made by China," he added. Duterte did not specify the source for this $1 million, roughly P48 million, donation. In a joint call to action, Covax co-convenors sought contributions to raise $2 billion by June 2 so that they can lock in supplies that can be delivered to 92 lower income countries through 2021 and into early 2022. The Philippines is among these 92 lower income economies that are benefiting from the Gavi Covax Advance Market Commitment. So far, the Philippines has received 2.556 million doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine and 193,050 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Since February 2021, Covax has delivered over 70 million doses to 126 countries. However, it faces a shortfall of190 million doses by the end of June because of the surge in India that has affected vaccine production. The target is to deliver 2.0 billion doses worldwide this year and 1.8 billion doses to 92 lower income economies by early 2022 . "If the world's leaders rally together, the original Covax objectives – delivery of 2 billion doses of vaccines worldwide in 2021, and 1.8 billion doses to 92 lower income economies by early 2022 are still well within reach," the statement read. "But it will require governments and the private sector to urgently unlock new sources of doses, with deliveries starting in June, and funding so we can deliver. Covax has the infrastructure in place to facilitate and coordinate this complex global effort," it added. Vaccines are delivered to the 92 lower income countries through the Gavi Covax Advance Market Commitment, which has already secured 1.3 billion doses for delivery in 2021. Among the countries that have committed to contribute to the Covax AMC are France, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Spain, New Zealand and the United Arab Emirates. The United States has also promised to provide around 80 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to Covax. Covax was convened by Gavi The Vaccine Alliance, Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, World Health Organization and Unicef. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| ‘Dante’ moves toward Eastern Visayas Posted: 01 Jun 2021 12:07 AM PDT MORE areas have been placed under storm warning signals, as Tropical Storm Dante (Choi-Wan) continued to move closer to Visayas Tuesday afternoon, June 1, 2021. As of 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dante was spotted moving north northwestward toward the southern portion of Eastern Visayas, and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said it will continue to move generally west northwestward or northwestward until Wednesday evening, June 2. "The center of Tropical Storm Dante was estimated based on all available data at 220 kilometers east northeast of Maasin City, Southern Leyte or 125 kilometers east southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar," Pagasa said in its 2 p.m. bulletin. It added that the storm will make its initial landfall over Eastern Samar or Leyte between Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. "This tropical storm is forecast to maintain its strength prior to landfall. Dante may weaken into a tropical depression on Friday and to low pressure area on Saturday," it added. The storm was seen packing maximum winds of 75 kilometers per hour (km/h) near the center, gusts up to 90 km/h, and central pressure of 996 hPa. It was moving north northwestward at 15 km/h. Pagasa said gale-force winds may extend outward up to 100 kilometers from the center. Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) Number 2 has been raised over the following areas: LUZON Catanduanes, the southern portion of Camarines Sur (Caramoan, Presentacion, Lagonoy, San Jose, Sagñay, Garchitorena, Buhi, Iriga City, Bato, Nabua, Balatan, Goa, Tigaon, Ocampo, Bula, Baao, Pili, Minalabac, Milaor, Naga City, Calabanga, Bombon, Magarao, Canaman, Camaligan, Gainza, San Fernando, Tinambac, Siruma), Masbate including Ticao and Burias Island, Albay and Sorsogon VISAYAS Eastern Samar, Samar, Northern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, and Southern Leyte MINDANAO Dinagat Islands, Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands Areas under TCWS Number 1 are the following: LUZON Quezon including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, the rest of Camarines Sur, Marinduque, and Romblon VISAYAS Aklan, Capiz, the northern and central portion of Iloilo (Lambunao, Janiuay, Dumangas, Zarraga, New Lucena, Pototan, Mina, Badiangan, Dueñas, Calinog, Bingawan, City of Passi, San Enrique, Dingle, Barotac Nuevo, Banate, Anilao, Barotac Viejo, San Rafael, Lemery, Ajuy, Sara, San Dionisio, Concepcion, Batad, Estancia, Balasan, Carles), the northern portion of Negros Occidental (San Carlos City, Salvador Benedicto, Cadiz City, Sagay City, City of Escalante, Toboso, Calatrava, City of Talisay, Silay City, Enrique B. Magalona, City of Victorias, Manapla, Murcia, Bacolod City), Bohol, and the northern and central portion of Cebu (Daanbantayan, Medellin, City of Bogo, San Remigio, Tabogon, Borbon, Tabuelan, Sogod, Tuburan, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Asturias, Balamban, Compostela, Liloan, Cebu City, Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Consolacion, Cordova, Toledo City, City of Talisay, Minglanilla, City of Naga, Pinamungahan, San Fernando, Aloguinsan, City of Carcar) including Bantayan and Camotes Islands MINDANAO The rest of Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, and the northeastern portion of Misamis Oriental (Magsaysay, Gingoog City, Talisayan, Balingoan, Medina), and Camiguin Pagasa said Dante will bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Samar, and Eastern Samar Tuesday until Wednesday morning, June 2. Moderate to heavy rains will also prevail over Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Northern Samar, Bohol, the northern portion of Cebu including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, Sorsogon, and Masbate. Light to moderate with at times heavy rains are also likely over Catanduanes, Albay, Camarines Sur, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Camiguin, Bukidnon, Davao Region, and Soccsksargen and the rest of Central Visayas, said the weather bureau. "Under these conditions and considering antecedent rainfall, scattered flooding (including flash floods) and rain-induced landslides are highly likely, especially in areas with high or very high susceptibility to these hazards as identified in hazard maps. Adjacent or nearby areas may also experience flooding in the absence of such rainfall occurrence due to surface runoff or swelling of river channels," it said. It also said that Dante will bring strong winds to gale-force winds over the areas where TCWS 2 is hoisted, while strong winds (strong breeze to near gale), which may cause generally very light damage to structures and vegetation, will be experienced in areas where TCWS 1 is in effect. It also warned that rough to very rough seas will be experienced over the seaboards of areas where TCWS 2 is in effect, and the eastern seaboard of Caraga in the next 24 hours. "Sea travel is risky for small seacrafts over these waters. Mariners without the proper experience should immediately seek safe harbor," it said. Moderate to rough seas are also expected over the eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental and the remaining seaboards of areas where TCWS 1 is in effect. (LMY/SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Duterte extends travel restrictions on India, 6 other countries Posted: 31 May 2021 10:35 PM PDT RESTRICTIONS on travelers from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Oman and United Arab Emirates are extended until June 15, 2021. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. announced the extension during the meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday evening, May 31. The restrictions were imposed on April 29 as a measure to prevent the entry of the Delta variant of Sars-CoV-2, or B.1.617.2 lineage. The Delta variant, which was first detected in India, has also been found in the Philippines. As of May 29, there have been 13 cases with one fatality in the country. Read: Filipino seafarer with new virus variant dies The travel restrictions were expanded on May 7 to include passengers with travel history in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. On May 16, travelers from Oman and UAE were included. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Cop kills woman during heated dispute Posted: 31 May 2021 09:29 PM PDT A POLICEMAN gunned down on Monday, May 31, 2021, a woman with whom he had a heated argument in Barangay Greater Fairview in Quezon City. Lilibeth Valdez, 52, died on the spot. Police Master Sergeant Hensie Zinampan, who appeared to be drunk, was shown on video dragging Valdez by her hair and shooting her, then casually walking away. He will be charged with murder, according to Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar. Zinampan, who was assigned to the Police Security Protection Group, will also undergo summary hearings before the Internal Affairs Service (IAS). He faces dismissal from the service. Eleazar said Zinampan was arrested hours after the incident by responding policemen from the Quezon City Police District Station 5. The firearm that he used to kill Valdez was recovered from him. Eleazar, who confronted the detained suspect, said Zinampan initially denied committing the crime. "Wala na magagawa, may video na (There's nothing he can do. There's a video)," he said in an interview with reporters. A video of the incident showed Zinampan and Valdez had a confrontation in front of a sari-sari store at around 9:30 p.m. Monday. Eleazar apologized to the family of Valdez and assured assistance. (SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| WHO uses Greek letters to label Sars-CoV-2 variants Posted: 31 May 2021 06:20 PM PDT A GROUP of experts convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the use of Greek letters in referring to Sars-CoV-2 variants for easy recall among non-scientific individuals. The four variants of concern (VOC) may now be referred to as Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta variants, according to a WHO statement issued on early Tuesday, June 1, 2021 (local time).
The variant of interest (VOI) first detected in the Philippines, P.3, will be known as Theta. Other VOIs will go by Epsilon, Zeta, Eta, Iota and Kappa.
Based on the WHO definition, a VOC has been demonstrated to be associated with one or more of the following: increase in transmissibility; increase in virulence or severity of disease; and decrease in effectiveness of diagnostics, vaccines, therapeutics. A VOI has mutations that (VOI) that cause community transmission/multiple Covid-19 cases/clusters, or has been detected in multiple countries. A form of the virus may also be designated as VOI based on WHO's assessment in consultation with its Sars-CoV-2 Virus Evolution Working Group. In the Philippines, authorities have detected the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta and Theta variants. As of May 29, 2021, the University of the Philippines - Philippine Genome Center has detected 2,494 cases with variants in the Philippines, consisting of 1,071 Alpha, 1,246 Beta, 13 Delta, 162 Theta and two Gamma cases. The WHO said the established nomenclature systems for naming and tracking Sars-CoV-2 genetic lineages by GISAID, Nextstrain and Pango will remain in use by scientists and in scientific research. GISAID is a global initiative that provides open access to genomic data of influenza viruses and Sars-CoV-2 while Nextstrain is an open-source project that tracks pathogen genome data. Pango is the nomenclature system that is currently used to identify Sars-CoV-2 genetic lineages to track transmission. (Marites Villamor - Ilano / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Duterte places 14 areas under harsher MECQ Posted: 31 May 2021 05:21 PM PDT PRESIDENT Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday, May 31, 2021, approved the recommendation to place more areas under the harsher modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) until June 15, 2021 to curb the rising cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Added to the list are Puerto Princesa City, Cagayan de Oro City, Butuan City, Agusan del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte. The cities of Santiago, Zamboanga and Iloilo, as well as the provinces of Cagayan, Apayao, Benguet and Ifugao will remain under MECQ until June 15. The NCR Plus area, meanwhile, will remain under general community quarantine (GCQ) with restrictions from June 1 to 15. This consists of the National Capital Region and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal. Areas under GCQ from June 1 to June 30, 2021 are Abra, Baguio City, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Quirino, Batangas, Quezon Province, Lanao del Sur, Iligan City, Davao City and Cotabato City. The rest of the country is under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) for the entire month of June, as recommended by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases. Under MECQ, persons under 18 and over 65 are required to stay at home. Movement of authorized persons outside residence is limited to supply run and work in permitted establishments. Establishments allowed to operate are required to limit operations to 50 percent capacity. Gatherings are prohibited while public transportation systems will operate at limited capacity. Under Resolution No. 115-C of the IATF, only essential travel is allowed into and out of the NCR plus bubble. Food establishments and outdoor tourist attractions are open, but at limited capacity. Religious gatherings and necrological services for those who died from non-Covid causes are allowed for only 10 percent of capacity. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Nearly 4M get at least 1 dose, but vaccinations slow down Posted: 31 May 2021 04:36 AM PDT THE number of individuals who have received at least one dose of a vaccine against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has increased to almost 4.0 million, the Department of Health (DOH) reported Monday, May 31, 2021. Vaccinations, however, slowed down to a daily average of 144,402 in the recent seven days to May 30 compared to 162,513 a day as of May 22. In a statement, the DOH said a total of 3,974,350 individuals have been inoculated, including 1,206,371 who have completed the two-dose regimen since inoculations began on March 1, 2021. The fully vaccinated individuals comprise less than 2.0 percent of the vaccination target of up to 70 million people this year. A total of 5,180,721 doses have been administered as of 6 p.m. of May 30. Only 1,124 vaccination sites reported their data. More than 2.7 million people still have to receive their second dose. The government is simultaneously inoculating Priority Groups A1 (health workers, mayors, governors, relatives of health workers), A2 (senior citizens) and A3 (persons with comorbidities). Group A4 will be eligible to receive the vaccine in June, although some workers were inoculated during the Labor Day celebration on May 1. Group A4 consists of government employees, and private sector and informal sector workers who need to work outside of their homes. Of the 3.97 million individuals who received one dose, 1,403,647 are from A1, 1,379,946 are senior citizens, 1,179,930 are persons with comorbidities, and 10,827 are from A4. The fully vaccinated include 671,422 from A1, 245,244 from A2, 286,670 from A3, and 3,035 from A4. The government's long-term goal is to achieve herd immunity by vaccinating 70 percent of the Philippines' 108 million people. With the low supply of vaccines, however, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. and the DOH shifted short-term strategies to focus on protecting the vulnerable population in the NCR Plus 8, which consists of the National Capital Region, Metro Cebu, Metro Davao, and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Pampanga, Laguna, Batangas and Rizal. Galvez, a retired military general, likened these areas that are also epidemic hotspots to what the military calls centers of gravity. This area has a combined population estimated at 83 million. To achieve herd immunity in this area, Galvez said they aim to vaccinate 58.68 million individuals by the end of 2021. As of May 30, the Philippines has received a total of 8,329,050 doses of Covid-19 vaccines, consisting of 5.5 million doses of Sinovac (CoronaVac), 2.556 million of AstraZeneca, 193,050 doses of Pfizer and 80,000 doses of Sputnik V from Russia. The AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines were donated through Covax while one million doses of the 5.5 million Sinovac doses were donated by China. The rest was procured by the government. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Covid-19 cases, deaths in 5 months exceed 2020 count Posted: 31 May 2021 02:49 AM PDT (UPDATED) The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, May 31, 2021, reported more than 6,000 cases for the fifth consecutive day and over 100 deaths from coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) for six days in a row. In its case bulletin, DOH listed 6,684 new infections and 107 additional deaths. There were 6,098 recoveries. As new cases exceeded the recoveries, the number of active cases in hospitals and isolation facilities increased further to 54,290. The new infections brought the total number of new cases confirmed in the month of May to 192,841, a 65 percent decrease from the record high case count in the month of April. However, the surge in infections in March and April brought the case count in just five months from January to May 2021 to 756,237 cases, around 60 percent higher than the 474,064 cases in the entire 2020. The Philippines' cumulative Covid-19 case count increased to 1,230,301 as of May 31. Ten duplicates, including six recoveries and one death, were removed from the tally. The 107 additional deaths, which included 57 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries, pushed the death toll closer to 21,000, just seven days after breaching 20,000. As of May 31, the Covid-19 death toll in the Philippines has gone up to 20,966, around 1.7 percent of the total case count. For the month of May alone, the DOH case bulletins listed 3,732 mortalities, a 5.2 percent decline from the record high 3,937 deaths in the month of April. But cumulative Covid-19 deaths in just five months from January to May reached 11,722, exceeding by nearly 27 percent the 9,244 mortalities for the entire 2020. The additional recoveries on Monday brought the total to 1,155,045, around 94 percent of the total case count. DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire has traced the recent rise in new infections to 12 regions, which have posted positive two-week growth rates. Six of these showed accelerating growth rates. Cagayan Valley posted the highest average daily attack rate of 8.8 per 100,000 population, followed by Cordillera at 8.4 per 100,000, and National Capital Region (NCR) at 8.11 per 100,000 population. Vergeire noted that testing in NCR has decreased to 189,000 from 232,000 a week either because Covid-19 cases have gone down, or a different test for the virus is being conducted in some cases. In the Visayas and Mindanao, testing output increased. Vergeire said laboratories in the Visayas now conduct an average of 50,000 per week compared to the previous 46,000 while those in Mindanao are now doing 42,000 compared to the previous 29,000 tests. On May 29, the positivity rate nationwide remained elevated at 13.7 percent out of the 44,278 samples tested. Three laboratories were unable to submit their data to the Covid-19 Document Repository System. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Areas with faster Covid-19 case growth face stricter quarantine measures Posted: 31 May 2021 01:54 AM PDT (UPDATED) The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases is meeting Monday afternoon, May 31, 2021, to discuss the pandemic risk classifications and determine which areas may be placed under more restrictive quarantine measures in June. Department of Health (DOH) Maria Rosario Vergeire said six regions have posted increasing growth rates for new coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases out of 12 regions with positive two-week growth rates. In a media forum Monday, Vergeire identified five of the six regions as Ilocos, Mimaropa, Caraga, Western Visayas and Central Visayas. A DOH statement later Monday corrected the list to include Ilocos, Mimaropa, Bicol, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas and Caraga. The six other regions with positive growth rates are Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Western Visayas, Soccsksargen, Davao and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. Vergeire pointed out, however. that not the entire regions are seeing an increase in Covid-19 cases. Among these regions, Vergeire said Ilocos and Central Visayas swung from negative to positive growth rates as cases surged. A previous DOH report also showed that these two regions had the highest regional intensive care unit utilization rates. Among the four provinces of Central Visayas, Negros Oriental and Bohol are experiencing an increase in cases. Based on the regional case bulletin for Sunday, May 30, Bohol had 135 new cases while Negros Oriental had 119. Both provinces have active cases exceeding 1,000. Negros Oriental has 1,573 active cases while Bohol has 1,065 active cases in hospitals and isolation facilities. Cebu Province, excluding the highly urbanized cities, has 479 active cases including 19 new cases on May 30, while Siquijor only has two, with zero new cases. Among the highly urbanized cities in Cebu, Cebu City has the highest active cases at 536, followed by Lapu-Lapu City with 178 and Mandaue City with 176. Cebu City had 30 new infections on May 30 while Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue reported eight and six new cases, respectively. Vergeire said the DOH studied the situation in the regions over the weekend to determine which areas will meet the parameters for escalation or de-escalation of quarantine measures for the month of June. "Let me just remind that aside from complying with the minimum health protocols, we must also intensify detection, isolation and treatment. Local government units should intensify contact tracing," she said. "Those with symptoms and those exposed to the virus must be placed in isolation within 24 hours. This is the most critical measure that we can take to break transmission of Covid-19," she added. She also said LGUs must implement granular lockdowns in areas experiencing a surge in cases. In a television interview earlier Monday, Vergeire said they were closely monitoring the six regions. "Within these specific regions, there are these specific provinces that are having higher cases but not really the whole of that region," she said. Vergeire said health authorities in the said areas have been ordered to list their needs for the expansion of their ICU capacity. She said they were most concerned about Mindanao because hospitals there have fewer ICU beds allocated for Covid-19 patients. "But of course we understand that some of the hospitals would have difficulties or challenges because these are small hospitals or sometimes their resources are not enough. We are now assisting them so that we can better expand the capacity," said Vergeire. Just like in the National Capital Region, Vergeire said the DOH is also looking at establishing modular hospitals, and additional treatment and monitoring facilities to decongest hospitals. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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