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- Covid-19 cases hit new low in 1 month
- 5 arrested, P58-M drugs seized
- Illegal drugs worth P258M seized in condo units
- Man behind YBL bombing arrested
- Duterte threatens to arrest citizens who refuse vaccine
- Face-to-face classes still not allowed
- Duterte apologizes for confusing face shield policy statements
- Duterte: I will not obey any court order on pandemic matters
- Duterte has decided: Continue wearing face shields
- DOH reports new low in nearly 2 weeks
- Covid-19 vaccinations increase
- Wear face shields in crowded open air areas
| Covid-19 cases hit new low in 1 month Posted: 22 Jun 2021 03:52 AM PDT THE Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, reported the lowest number of new cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) in a month as 12 laboratories failed to submit their testing output. In its case bulletin Tuesday, DOH listed 3,666 new infections, the lowest since the 3,083 cases confirmed on May 23, 2021. Twelve laboratories, which contributed 3.0 percent of the samples tested and 3.1 percent of the positive results in the last 14 days, failed to submit their data to the Covid-19 Document Repository System on June 20. Only 31,222 samples were processed on June 20, of which 11.8 percent were found positive for Sars-CoV-2. The new cases brought the total case count to 1,367,894. Eleven duplicates, including eight recoveries, were removed. The DOH also reported 60 additional mortalities and 6,810 new recoveries. The additional deaths, which included 56 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries, raised the Covid-19 death toll in the Philippines to 23,809. The case fatality rate remained at 1.74 percent. The new recoveries brought the total to 1,291,389, accounting for 94.4 percent of the total case count. Given the low number of new cases and higher recoveries, the number of active cases in hospitals and isolation facilities decreased to 52,696, a new low in 20 days. The active cases constitute 3.9 percent of the total case count. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 5 arrested, P58-M drugs seized Posted: 22 Jun 2021 01:12 AM PDT POLICE arrested five persons who yielded P58 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) during a drug bust in Imus, Cavite, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar said on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. Arrested were Tamano Daud, 41; Ismael Daud, 24; Omar Redia, 43; Bainor Maguid, 23; and Norma Maguid, 35. They were charged with violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 as well as illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. All five are allegedly members of the Tamano Drug Group, which is operating in the National Capital Region and Rizal province. Police said they seized 8.533 kilograms of shabu with estimated street value of P58,024,400 as well as various firearms during the drug bust in Barangay Bayan Luma III on June 19, 2021. Eleazar said the Tamano Drug Group is connected to Montasir Sabal, former mayor of Talitay, Maguindanao who was killed in an alleged gun scuffle following his arrest. Read: Former mayor killed over illegal guns, drugs Sabal, who was on the national illegal drugs watchlist, also allegedly supplied firearms and explosive materials to local terror group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Illegal drugs worth P258M seized in condo units Posted: 22 Jun 2021 12:49 AM PDT AUTHORITIES seized over P258 million worth of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) from two condominium units in Malate, Manila. A team of policemen and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents raided the two condo units in Royal Plaza Twin Tower along Remedios Street based on a search warrant issued by 2nd Executive Judge Carolina Icasiano-Sison of the Regional Trial Court Branch 18 in Manila. Seized during the raid in unit 1605 were around 15 kilos of shabu valued at P102 million while 23 kilos worth P156.4 million were recovered in the other unit. The two units have been leased to Chinese national Chen Zhinzun, who was arrested in a drug bust in Parañaque City on June 13, 2021. During the drug bust, Zhinzun yielded around 38 kilograms of shabu with an estimated street value of P257 million. PNP Chief Guillermo Eleazar said Zhinzun told investigators about his rented units following his arrest. Zhinzun has been known to distribute illegal drugs in the National Capital Region and nearby regions. "This is another stern warning to all foreign nationals who are into illegal drugs, we shall not rest until all of you are placed behind bars," Eleazar said. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Man behind YBL bombing arrested Posted: 22 Jun 2021 12:11 AM PDT AUTHORITIES arrested on Monday, June 21, 2021, the alleged mastermind behind the bus explosion and burning incident in North Cotabato, the military said on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. Brigadier General Roberto Capulong, commander of 602nd Infantry Brigade, said Ali Akbar was arrested in a joint law enforcement operation in Barangay East Patadon, Kidapawan City. Akbar has a standing arrest warrant issued by Branch 23, Regional Trial Court for double murder and multiple frustrated murder. Capulong said Akbar was identified as the brains behind the Yellow Bus Line (YBL) bus bombing in Tulunan, North Cotabato on January 27, 2021, and the burning of another YBL bus in M'Lang, North Cotabato on June 3, 2021. These incidents killed four people. "Akbar is a bomb and improvised explosive device (IED) expert and an extortionist belonging to the Dawlah Islamiya-Hassan Group," Capulong said. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Duterte threatens to arrest citizens who refuse vaccine Posted: 22 Jun 2021 12:07 AM PDT INDIVIDUALS who refuse to be vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) will face arrest, an exasperated President Rodrigo Duterte threatened on Monday evening, June 21, 2021. "Itong mga g*** na ayaw magpabakuna, and they are really the carriers. If they can travel from one place to another, carrying the virus and then contaminating other people. Kayong ayaw magpabakuna, ipabakuna ko 'yong itong sa bakuna ng baboy, 'yong Ivermectin," he said in a televised public address. "Don't get me wrong. There is a crisis being faced in this country. There is a national emergency. Kung ayaw mong magpabakuna, ipaaresto kita. At ang bakuna ay galing itusok ko sa puwet mo," he added. He said he may order barangay officials to list down those who are eligible for vaccination but refuse to receive the vaccine. "Don't force my hand into it, kagaya nitong ano. Strong-arm method 'yan eh. Walang may gusto niyan. Pero kung hindi kayo magpabakuna, umalis kayo sa Pilipinas. Go to India if you want or somewhere, to America. But for as long as you are here and you are a human being, and can carry the virus, eh magpabakuna ka," he said. In his report to Duterte, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said 2,153,942 individuals have been fully vaccinated out of 6,253,400 persons who have received one dose since the inoculations started on March 1, 2021. Of those fully vaccinated, 1,067,630 are from priority group A1 (healthcare workers, mayors, governors), 553,527 from A2 (senior citizens), 524,699 from A3 (persons with comorbidities and 8,086 from A4 (workers who need to go out to work). Some local government units have started the inoculation of A5, or indigent Filipinos, with 67,185 getting their first dose. A total of 8,407,342 doses, both for first dose and second dose, have been administered. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Face-to-face classes still not allowed Posted: 21 Jun 2021 10:40 PM PDT PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte stood by his decision to allow the resumption of face-to-face classes only if majority of the Filipinos are vaccinated against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). The President made the decision amid the threat posed by the Delta variant of Sars-CoV-2, which has been shown to be 60 percent more contagious. The Delta variant, B.1.617, originated in India. Its sub-lineage B.1.617.2 has been found to be highly transmissible, with an infected person passing on the virus to eight other people. The probability of getting severe Covid-19 is also high because of this variant's immune escape capability. "Iyong face-to-face. Ma'am, we might differ in our opinions about the matter but for as long as there is really no vaccination, all," he told Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones in a televised public address on Monday evening, June 21, 2021. "Ang sa ano, ma'am, dito sa face-to-face, I think I am not inclined to agree with you. I'm sorry but mahirap. I... I cannot... I cannot gamble on the health of the children. I hope you'd understand," he added. Upon hearing the President's decision, Briones immediately withdrew DepEd's request to allow limited face-to-face classes in at least 100 schools in the country. "I came hoping for support for our learning continuity program na maski 100 pilot... We identified actually, Mr. President, 1,900 schools which might qualify. We kept on bringing it down na we said maski 100," said Briones. "But listening to the briefing and listening to your decision, we don't have any reservations because we all know the effect. And especially the idea, Mr. President, having also our children vaccinated because we are told that children are now more prone and perhaps are vulnerable, and we would not want to risk 27 million children and our teachers," she added. Briones said the Deped will remain prepared should the situation improve and face-to-face classes may be resumed. Briones earlier expressed concern over the possible impact of the prolonged school closure to the psychosocial welfare of students. She also noted that the Philippines is the only country in Southeast Asia that has not resumed face-to-face classes even at a limited capacity. As of June 20, 2021, the Department of Health said only 2,153,942 Filipinos have been fully vaccinated out of 6,253,400 who have received one dose. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Duterte apologizes for confusing face shield policy statements Posted: 21 Jun 2021 11:02 AM PDT PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday evening, June 21, 2021, apologized to the nation for the confusing policy statements on the use of face shields as protection against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). "I will apologize to the Filipino people, that this thing is being discussed openly and many thought that we were ready to do away with face masks (shields)," Duterte said in his weekly public address on Monday, June 21, 2021. "But with the kind of aggressive infection that poses a very grave danger to... It's a small inconvenience actually. I know that it is inconvenient really to be wearing the mask, adjusting it from time to time. But that is really a small price to pay," he added. He confirmed that he has decided to retain the use of face shields aside from face masks as among the minimum public health standards because of the threat posed by the Delta variant, the Sars-CoV-2 variant that ravaged India. The Delta (B.1.617.2) variant has been found to be at least 60 percent more transmissible than the Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant, which was first detected in the United Kingdom. Duterte said the government cannot afford a second wave of Covid-19 infections. "We cannot afford it. The first wave depleted the resources of government. Another one would be disastrous for this country. That is why the stricter you are, the better," he said. The President said he realized that he and the senators may have erred in discussing the policy in public. "When I mentioned about the face shield, I was only shooting the breeze with members of Congress. I never said with finality that we will do away with the face shield," he said in his weekly public address on Monday, June 21, 2021. The confusion over the face shield policy started when Department of Health Undersecretary Leopoldo Vega was quoted as saying that the face shield may be removed if is just walking on the streets or if it hinders a person from undertaking a task. DOH issued a clarification saying Vega was just enumerating the different settings that require face shields. On June 17, Senate President Vicente Sotto III announced on Twitter on June 17 that the President had agreed that face shields should be worn only in hospitals. On the same day, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. confirmed that the President made such a statement and that whatever the President says becomes national policy. Several hours later, Roque said the face shield policy remains because the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has appealed the President's "decision" and recommended that the face shield be retained in enclosed spaces. Earlier Monday, June 21, Roque said the face shield may be removed outdoors but should still be worn in crowded open spaces. Several hours later, Roque announced that the President has decided to retain the use of face shields. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Duterte: I will not obey any court order on pandemic matters Posted: 21 Jun 2021 10:12 AM PDT PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday evening, June 21, 2021, warned the judiciary that he will not obey any order to stop the implementation of IATF arrival protocols in Cebu. He also said he will leave the fate of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who has insisted on enforcing a provincial ordinance on Cebu's testing and quarantine policy for returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) and overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). A lawyer by profession, Duterte said he respects the judiciary and assures that he will follow any court orders, but not during a national emergency such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. "At this time of a national emergency, I would just like to inform the courts that I will not follow them. I will insist on what is necessary to protect the people," Duterte said. The President was reacting to the petition filed on Monday by two Cebuano lawyers, who asked the Cebu Regional Trial Court (RTC) to stop the implementation of Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Resolution 114, which lays down the arrival protocols for international passengers in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. The petition also sought to declare the IATF resolution as "ineffective" in Cebu Province. It was filed by lawyers Clarence Paul Oaminal and Valentino Bacalso Jr. through Benjamin Cabrido Jr. National emergency Duterte said a provincial ordinance cannot take precedence over a national policy. Proclamation 922, which Duterte issued on March 8, 2020, declared a state of public health emergency throughout the Philippines due to the Covid-19 pandemic. "An ordinance of a local government unit cannot be more...cannot be higher than a national policy. The policies that we are dishing out are guided by the proclamation and they are the laws (of the land). Because of the emergency, this is how we do it," Duterte said. The proclamation enjoins all local government units (LGUs) to render full assistance and cooperation, authorizes the Department of Health Secretary to call upon the police to provide assistance in addressing the Covid-19 threat, and urges all citizens to "act within the bounds of the law and to comply with the lawful directives and advisories to be issued by appropriate government agencies" to prevent Covid-19 transmission and "ensure the safety and well-being of all." Read: Philippines under state of public health emergency "The courts are put to notice that what we have here is a national emergency, that's why we came up with a proclamation declaring this pandemic is of national interest," Duterte said. He said he will not obey any injunction that a court will issue to stop the implementation of the IATF protocols. The IATF is the government's policy-making body for Covid-19 response. "'Yung mga korte, huwag na lang ninyong ipalabas kasi magkakaroon tayo ng impasse. And I do not want to lock horns with the judiciary. I said nirerespeto ko. There is a time for the courts to function normally and grant injunctions. But this time, I said they are put to notice ...I will not obey the courts in the matter of management (of) the pandemic," Duterte said. "I do not want anybody from any government agency or department messing up with a situation which, I said, is being managed because it is very dangerous for the country," he said. Conflict Duterte said the issue is "not a question of justice and equity." "This is a question of survival of the nation. I will not allow any court, for that matter...I'm putting notice...Hindi ako susunod. If you want to... well, I'm sorry. You know the stakes. Kayo. Basta, ito ang posisyon ko," the President added. This was the first time that Duterte directly addressed the conflict since the Office of the Executive Secretary, on his instructions, issued a memorandum diverting the international flights bound for Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in a bid to force the Cebu Provincial Government to comply with the IATF protocols. The flights were diverted to NAIA on May 29 to June 5, with an extension until June 12. DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said the President's statement will assuage the fears of the implementing units in Cebu that they will be hailed to court if they don't follow the Cebu protocols. Earlier Monday, Governor Garcia issued Executive Order 23 reminding the implementing units that Provincial Ordinance 2021-04 is "an existing and valid law" and "non-compliance...will merit the filing of criminal and administrative cases against violators." This was directed at the DOH, Bureau of Quarantine, Department of Tourism, Philippine National Police, MCIA and other concerned agencies. The executive order was issued two days after DOH officials directed the regional directors of these government agencies to enforce the IATF protocols. Read: Conflict over arrival rules in Cebu simmers Protocols Under IATF Resolution 114, arriving international passengers must go into facility-based quarantine for 10 days and undergo a swab test for Sars-CoV-2 on the seventh day. Even with a negative test result, the passenger must complete 10 days in facility-based quarantine and spend another four days on home quarantine. Exempted from this rule effective June 22, 2021 are individuals who were fully vaccinated in the Philippines. They will go into facility-based quarantine for only seven days and undergo a swab test only if they develop Covid-19 symptoms. Otherwise, they will be released and urged to self-monitor. Since March 31, 2021, however, Cebu has been implementing a swab on arrival policy based on Garcia's Executive Order 17. Under EO 17, which was strengthened by Provincial Ordinance 2021-04 on May 10, ROFs and OFWs are swabbed upon arrival for a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for Sars-CoV-2. They are to stay in a hotel quarantine while waiting for the test result and are released, if the test is negative, after a maximum of three days. No other requirements will be imposed on them. A memorandum that Garcia issued on May 13 specified the arrival protocols for transiting OFWs and ROFs, and reiterated the testing and quarantine policies under EO 17 and Provincial Ordinance 2021-04 for Cebu residents. Another memorandum on May 20 amended the May 13 memorandum to require OFWs and ROFs to be swabbed twice, upon arrival and on the seventh day. If their swab test upon arrival yields a negative result, they will be allowed to proceed to their destinations. Their LGU will conduct the second swab test on the seventh day. Those who are Cebu residents will be required to undergo facility or home quarantine for the remainder of a 14-day period from arrival. Garcia, together with Secretary Michael Dino of the Office of the President in the Visayas, went to see Duterte in Malacañang on May 31 to defend Cebu's protocols and emphasize that she had merely innovated on the IATF policy to make it more humane and reduce the financial burden on arriving Filipinos. The testing and quarantine expenses of OFWs are shouldered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. ROFs, on the other hand, have to fend for themselves. Duterte said he had told Garcia during their meeting that he saw the wisdom in her view and assured her that the government is fair. But the government and the medical community "simply do not agree with her," Duterte said. "I leave the fate of Governor Garcia with the DILG...to compel obedience, not because we want to be 'mas marunong,' but remember, I said that all our decisions are based on what medical people say," he added. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Duterte has decided: Continue wearing face shields Posted: 21 Jun 2021 05:28 AM PDT MALACAÑANG on Monday evening, June 21, 2021, announced that President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to keep the face shield policy. "Acting on the advice of health experts and in view of the Delta variant, PRRD declared that the wearing of face shields, both indoor and outdoor, is still mandatory," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a Twitter post. Roque made the announcement four days after confirming that the President, during an event in Malacañang attended by lawmakers on June 16, agreed that face shields should be worn only in hospitals. Senate President Vicente Sotto III had tweeted the next day that the President allowed him to remove his face shield during the event. The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, however, recommended that the use of face shields be retained in enclosed public spaces. Read: Palace: Existing face shield policy remains in effect Earlier Monday, Roque noted that only the use of face shields indoors is under appeal. He said face shields may be removed outdoors, but must be retained in crowded open spaces. In less than 12 hours, he announced that the President has retained the policy. Based on Joint Memorandum Circular 2021-0001, face shields are required in the following settings as protection against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) transmission:
Exempted from wearing face shields are "individuals engaged in strenuous activities/work, fine workmanship, operation of transportation vehicles and active transport." (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| DOH reports new low in nearly 2 weeks Posted: 21 Jun 2021 04:50 AM PDT THE Department of Health (DOH) on Monday, June 21, 2021, reported 5,249 new cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), the lowest in nearly two weeks, as eight laboratories failed to submit their testing output to the Covid-19 Document Repository System. The new cases brought the total Covid-19 count in the country to 1,364,239, of which 55,847 are active cases. There were 23 duplicates, including 16 recoveries, that were removed from the total case count while 63 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as active cases. Two other recoveries were found to have tested negative and were also removed from the total count. Covid-19 deaths exceeded 100 for the sixth time in the last seven days as the DOH reported 128 additional mortalities on Monday, including 45 cases that were initially tagged as recoveries. The additional mortalities raised the death toll to 23,749, or 1.74 percent of the total count. There were 7,053 new recoveries, bringing the total to 1,284,643. Testing output was relatively lower at 43,012, of which 13 percent yielded positive results for Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. The 5,249 cases listed on Monday were the lowest since the 4,777 on June 8, 2021. The seven-day moving average, however, remained at around 6,000. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Covid-19 vaccinations increase Posted: 21 Jun 2021 04:07 AM PDT INOCULATIONS with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine increased by almost 50 percent to an average of 208,809 a day in the past seven days from the 140,985 daily average in the previous week, the National Vaccine Operations Center reported Monday, June 21, 2021. As of June 20, 2021, the Department of Health (DOH) said a total of 2,153,942 Filipinos have been fully vaccinated out of the 6,253,400 who have received one dose. Among the fully vaccinated individuals, 1,067,630 are health workers, 553,257 are senior citizens, 524,699 are persons with comorbidities and 8,086 are essential workers. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said inoculations were highest at 322,929 on June 15. Roque said the government is confidents of vaccinating at least 70 million people by the end of the year. Meanwhile, DOH Undersecretary Abdullah Dumama Jr. said there is no favoritism in the distribution of Pfizer vaccines. He said Metro Davao and Metro Cebu each received 210,000 doses of the vaccine. He denied that Davao, which is the hometown of President Rodrigo Duterte, received the biggest allocation. "Wala pong pagkakaiba 'yung doses na naibigay sa Cebu at sa Davao... Wala hong favoritism dito," he said. "Hindi po ito pang Davao City lang. Sa Davao region po ito at yung mga karatig pook," he added. Metro Davao and Metro Cebu are part of the NCR Plus 8, priority area for the vaccination program which is also composed of the National Capital Region, and the provinces of Batangas, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga and Rizal. DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said these areas received a high number of Pfizer vaccines because they have the ultra-low cold storage facilities needed for storage of the vaccine. She said only Mimaropa, Bicol, Soccsksargen, Caraga and the Bangsamoro have yet to receive Pfizer vaccines due to lack of facilities. (SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Wear face shields in crowded open air areas Posted: 21 Jun 2021 03:31 AM PDT SINCE the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has recommended the continued use of face shields in enclosed areas only, Malacañang said citizens may no longer use face shields outdoors, except when there is a crowd. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said, however, that President Rodrigo Duterte will announce his decision during his public address on Monday evening, June 21, 2021. "Sa mga nagtatanong, 'Kailangan pa ba ang face shield?' Ang malinaw ganito: hindi na po kinakailangan ng face shield sa labas kasi hindi naman po inapela 'yan ng IATF (Inter Agency Task Force). Ang inapela lang ng IATF 'yong pagsuot ng face shield sa loob," he said in a televised press briefing Monday. Last week, Roque confirmed that Duterte had agreed to only require the wearing of face shields in hospitals. The IATF, however, appealed and recommended that face shields be uses in enclosed/indoor spaces like hospitals, schools, workplaces, commercial establishments, public transport and terminals, and places of worship. The Department of Health has cited studies showing that face shields provide another layer of protection against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). (SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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