https://www.sunstar.com.ph/ |
- PNP to coordinate with LGU in enforcing arrival protocols in Cebu
- Active cases surge past 60,000
- POEA halts deployment to Oman
- Comelec notes over 100,000 downloads of mobile registration app
- PNP to continue enforcing face shield policy
- Concerted effort needed to combat digital vote buying
- 3 persons, including minor, killed in Surigao
- NTF ordered to strictly enforce arrival protocols in all ports
- IATF hikes deployment ceiling for health workers
- DOH, FDA receive World No Tobacco Day Award
- Palace: Existing face shield policy remains in effect
- Discrepancy in Pfizer vaccine deliveries noted
- Former mayor in Maguindanao killed over illegal guns, drugs
- DOH reclassifies more recoveries as active cases, deaths
| PNP to coordinate with LGU in enforcing arrival protocols in Cebu Posted: 18 Jun 2021 03:45 AM PDT PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar on Friday, June 18, 2021, said he will coordinate closely with the local government unit (LGU) in the enforcement of international arrival protocols in Cebu. He said the police are not involved in the conduct of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test for the novel coronavirus, but will ensure the enforcement of minimum public health standards. As to which protocols will be enforced, Eleazar said the local police will wait for the result of the discussions between the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases and the regional IATF. "Ang bottom line lagi nandun 'yung ating maximum tolerance pati lagi for the benefit of public ang ating concern. Babalansehin natin yan," he said. The IATF, the national government's policy-making body for Covid-19 response, has ordered the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19, including the police and military, to "ensure strict adherence" to existing arrival protocols for international travelers in all ports regardless of any specific protocols from the LGUs to the contrary. This is part of efforts to prevent the entry of more Covid-19 variants into the country. Cebu Province has been implementing arrival protocols that deviate from the IATF protocols despite a Malacañang statement saying President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the enforcement of IATF protocols in Cebu. (SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Active cases surge past 60,000 Posted: 18 Jun 2021 02:38 AM PDT THE Department of Health (DOH) on Friday, June 18, 2021, reported nearly 7,000 new cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), which pushed the number of active cases to a new high in more than a month. In its case bulletin Friday, the number of active cases went up to 61,776, the highest since the 63,376 on May 8, 2021. The number includes 30 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries. The 6,833 new cases raised the total Covid-19 case count in the Philippines to 1,346,276. Fourteen duplicates, including 10 recoveries and one death, were removed from the tally. The DOH case bulletin also listed 110 additional mortalities, including 60 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries but were found to have died from the disease. These brought the Covid-19 death toll in the Philippines to 23,385. The case fatality rate remained at 1.74 percent. There were 3,441 recoveries, the lowest in the last seven days from June 12 to 18. Total recoveries increased to 1,261,115, or 93.7 percent of the total count. The daily positivity rate sent up to 12.6 percent on June 16, with testing output declining slightly to 43,635 from the previous day. Five laboratories were not able to submit their data to the Covid-19 Document Repository System (CDRS) on June 16. The active cases account for 4.6 percent of the total case count. Of these, 92.2 percent are mild cases, 3.7 percent are asymptomatic cases, 1.7 percent are severe cases, 1.2 percent are critical cases and 1.2 percent are moderate cases. A report by independent research group Octa Research noted that Davao City, hometown of President Rodrigo Duterte, reported its highest number of cases in a day at 482 on June 17. Octa said Davao City posted a one-week growth rate of 26 percent to 232 cases (June 11 to 17) from 184 (June 4 to 10), a reproduction number of 1.47, and a one-week positivity rate of 14 percent out of an average of 3,000 tests per day. Octa also noted that the city has a hospital bed utilization rate of 67 percent (moderate risk), but its intensive care unit (ICU) utilization rate is already critical at 91 percent. DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the situation in Davao City is still far from being under control. "There has been no declaration that we are already able to control the cases in Davao City. Compared to previous months, the cases there really surged," she said. She said DOH has continued to closely monitor and provide the necessary assistance to the local government unit to prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed. "We are also facilitating their network of hospitals there so that we can decongest the hospitals in the area," said Vergeire. (HDT / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 18 Jun 2021 01:23 AM PDT THE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) on Friday, June 18, 2021, imposed a temporary ban on deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to Oman after the latter indefinitely prohibited the entry of travelers from the Philippines. Based on POEA Governing Board Resolution No. 05-2021, no OFW will be allowed to be deployed to Oman until the host government has decided to open its borders to travelers from the Philippines. The decision, it said, is in accordance with the recommendations of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The Philippines is among 15 countries covered by an entry restriction imposed by Oman. Travelers from the Philippines or those who passed through the Philippines less than 14 days prior to the application for entry, except for Omani citizens, diplomats, health workers and their families, are not allowed to enter the country. The same entry restriction was also imposed on travelers coming from the Republic of Sudan, Brazil, Nigeria, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Oman's ban has been imposed indefinitely or until further notice, noted the POEA. According to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), a total of 5,000 OFWs have been deployed to Oman in the first five months of 2021. "We don't have the exact figure how many will be directly affected by this suspension," said DOLE spokesman Rolly Francia in a virtual press briefing. (HDT / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Comelec notes over 100,000 downloads of mobile registration app Posted: 18 Jun 2021 01:07 AM PDT THERE have been more than 100,000 downloads of the mobile registration form app of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) just three days after it was launched. "We are tracking the downloads. More than 100,000 downloads so far in the last three days," said Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez. "Those are very good numbers. It is important to see that," he added. However, these downloads have yet to translate to actual registrations. Jimenez said they expect the effect of the mobile voter registration app to be felt in the numbers in the coming weeks. "Later on, we are probably gonna feel the impact as the people start coming," he said. "When you download, it doesn't mean you go out and register on the same day. A lot of people register after some time. We will see that impact downstream," he added. The app allows the public to apply for voter registration by typing in the necessary information. An encrypted QR (quick response) code will be generated once the user finishes providing all the required details. The user may then visit the local Comelec office to have the QR Code scanned, and his or her biometrics taken. The project is currently under pilot test in 575 cities and municipalities in the country. (HDT / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| PNP to continue enforcing face shield policy Posted: 18 Jun 2021 01:00 AM PDT PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar said they will continue to enforce the face shield policy, but will not impose sanctions on violators. Eleazar told policemen to just caution persons not wearing face shields. He said cops should also remind violators that face shields are still required in most public places, especially enclosed areas and where physical distancing is not possible. The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has recommended the continued use of face shields in enclosed/indoor spaces of hospitals, schools, workplaces, commercial establishments, public transport and terminals, and places of worship. Read: Palace: Existing face shield policy remains in effect https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1898021/Manila/Local-News/Palace-Existing-face-shield-policy-remains-in-effect President Rodrigo Duterte has yet to approve this proposal. The President was earlier quoted as saying that face shields should be used only in hospitals. Eleazar reiterated his reminder to policemen on the ground not to hurt violators of the face shield policy. He also instructed them to distribute face masks to violators. Proper wearing of face masks and face shields is among the minimum public health standards against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Concerted effort needed to combat digital vote buying Posted: 18 Jun 2021 12:30 AM PDT AN OFFICIAL of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday, June 18, 2021, said it would take a concerted effort by multiple agencies to fully prevent digital vote buying for the May 2022 elections. In a television interview, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said the poll body is not capable of single-handedly preventing digital vote buying. "Addressing this issue isn't something that anyone of our agencies can do by itself. It will have to be a common effort by all agencies," said Jimenez. He said they have long recognized this as a potential election problem due to the emergence of online cash transactions. "We've been saying this as much for the longest time, or since the people started using e-wallets. We have seen that potential," he said. "Especially with the onset of the pandemic, many transactions have moved into online transactions. That's obviously keeping us late at night," added Jimenez. Vote buying is defined as politicians offering voters with cash, food, or anything of value in exchange for their votes. Jimenez said the bottomline remains the same. "Don't sell your vote. No matter how big you will receive in exchange for your votes, it is guaranteed that you will pay them more once they are already seated in power," he said in a Twitter post. He said even the idea of taking the money but still voting for your choice is not acceptable. "Dear patriots, you're not being clever; you're not being edgy; and you sure as heck are not being wise when you advocate selling your vote and voting for who you really want. The ends do not justify the means," said Jimenez. (HDT / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| 3 persons, including minor, killed in Surigao Posted: 18 Jun 2021 12:08 AM PDT THREE persons, including a minor, were killed in what the military said was an encounter with suspected members of the New People's Army (NPA) in Lianga, Surigao del Sur on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Lieutenant Colonel Benedict Harvey Gernale, commanding officer of the 3rd Special Forces Battalion of the Philippine Army, identified the slain rebels as Lenie Perez Rivas, 38, Willy Salinas Rodriguez, 20, and a 12-year-old girl. Human rights group Karapatan said, however, that the three were from the Lumad-Manobo tribe in Sitio Manluy-a, Brgy. Diatagon, Lianga, Surigao del Sur. Karapatan said they were among six farmers bound for the poblacion to buy rice after harvesting abaca hemp in their farm when the troops fired at them. The group said the minor was a Grade 6 student of the Lumad school Tribal Filipino Program of Surigao del Sur (TRIFPSS). Karapatan said Rivas and Rodriguez were members of the Lumad organization Malahutayong Pakigbisog alang sa Sumusunod (Mapasu). Karapatan also said that based on the accounts of the family, there were signs that the Rivas sisters were sexually harassed and that the bodies of the three were mishandled as they were covered with plastic and bound with tape. The family said the bodies were beyond recognition. Gernale, for his part, said a special forces team was tracking communist members in the vicinity of Sitio New Decoy, Diatagon at around 2 p.m. Tuesday when they encountered the alleged NPA members. "The CNTs (communist NPA terrorists) fired at the soldiers and detonated an anti-personnel mine. An intense firefight ensued for more than 10 minutes, after which the terrorists scampered and tried to evade the operating troops," said Gernale. He said it was the same NPA group, with around 20 members, with whom military personnel had a firefight on June 14, 2021 in Sitio Tibog, Mabuhay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur. An NPA combatant was captured during the said operation. The military later found out that she is a minor. She was turned over to the local police who later turned her over to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office in Prosperidad for psychosocial intervention and appropriate assistance. Troops found various firearms and explosive materials at the two encounter sites. The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) urged the government to conduct its own investigation. "While we wait for the results of the independent probe, the commission urges the government to shed light on these deaths and conduct its own investigation to bring justice to the death," CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said in a statement. (Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| NTF ordered to strictly enforce arrival protocols in all ports Posted: 17 Jun 2021 09:39 PM PDT (UPDATED) Member-agencies of the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19, including the police and military, have been directed to "ensure strict adherence" to existing arrival protocols for international travelers in all ports as part of efforts to prevent the entry of more Covid-19 cases with highly transmissible variants. In Resolution No. 122 approved during its meeting Thursday, June 17, 2021, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease reiterated the strict enforcement of existing testing and quarantine protocols for inbound international travelers in all ports of the country, regardless of any specific protocols that may be issued by the local government units (LGUs) to the contrary. The order was directed at the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Health and the Bureau of Quarantine, Department of Tourism, Department of Transportation, Department of Labor and Employment and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs). Also covered by the order are the regional offices and the attached agencies of the national government agencies mentioned. The NTF implements the government's national action plan against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, which is based on policies recommended by the IATF to the President. The resolution was passed two days after Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, during a Senate hearing on June 15, invited IATF experts to a meeting with the Cebu Provincial Board to discuss the protocols. On the same day, she directed local officials to continue implementing Cebu's testing and quarantine protocols despite a Malacañang statement saying the President Rodrigo Duterte has decided to enforce the IATF protocols in Cebu. Read: Duterte: Enforce IATF arrival protocols in Cebu DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire confirmed that IATF experts will attend the meeting in Cebu. "We will be going there. Ito po naman ay isang bagay na gusto natin ding gawin para po magkaroon na ng kalinawan ito pong ating mga discrepancy sa protocols," she said in a virtual press conference Friday, June 18. "Everything can be managed through these discussions. We will be hearing them and they will be hearing us, and hopefully, by the end of that day, the matter would be resolved," she added. IATF arrival protocols The IATF arrival protocols, as contained in its Resolution 114, require an arriving international passenger to go into facility-based quarantine for 10 days and undergo a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) 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 will undergo a swab test only if they develop Covid-19 symptoms. Otherwise, they will be released and urged to self-monitor. Those found positive for the virus will have to comply with DOH protocols for Covid-19 patients. Vergeire said the latest IATF resolution reiterated that these protocols must be enforced nationwide. "That is very clear. 'Yan po ang ipapatupad (Those are the protocols that will be enforced)," Vergeire said. She emphasized the need to enforce strict border controls to prevent the entry of additional variant cases, especially the Delta variant, or B.1.617 that was first detected in India. "This is really very important for all of us right now because we are preventing the spread of variants in the country, most specifically the Delta variant which is ravaging other countries. In the UK (United Kingdom), almost 50 percent of the population has been vaccinated but Covid-19 cases are rising because of the Delta variant," Vergeire said. "Ayaw po natin na matulad tayo d'yan, that's why we are implementing strict border controls at hindi po pwede'ng paiba-iba ang ating mga pagpapatupad ng border controls. Kailangan uniform po 'yan across all of the regions so that we can prevent the entry of this type of variant in the country," she added. (We don't want this to happen to us), that's why we are implementing strict border controls. Border control measures must be uniform across all the regions to prevent the entry of this variant.) DOH earlier reported 13 Delta variant cases, all of which were traced to the B.1.617.2 sub-lineage which has been confirmed to be more transmissible and has spread to over 60 countries. Of the 13 cases, one had died. All cases involved overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), including the crew members of a foreign vessel that came from India. Cebu's arrival protocols Cebu's arrival protocols, as contained in Garcia's Executive Order 17 and the original Provincial Ordinance 2021-04, requires returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) and OFWs to be swabbed upon arrival at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA). These were revised after Malacañang, through the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES), ordered the rerouting of international flights bound for Mactan to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport from May 29 to June 5. This was later extended to June 12, based on a memorandum dated June 5 but announced on June 7. Under the amended Provincial Ordinance 2021-04, arriving ROFs and OFWs will undergo two swab tests, upon arrival and on the seventh day. The swab test upon arrival will be conducted by the DOH regional office and will be free of charge. While waiting for the test result, the ROF or OFW will be required to check into a quarantine hotel for a maximum of three days. If negative for the virus, the ROF or OFW who are residents of Cebu will be allowed to proceed to his/her LGU and go into facility or home quarantine for the remainder of the 14-day quarantine. The LGU will conduct the second swab test on the seventh day. Those who are not Cebu residents will also be allowed to proceed to their destinations after a negative test result and undergo another swab test on the seventh day, which will be conducted by the LGU. Passengers who are found positive upon arrival will be required to comply with DOH protocols for isolation of Covid-19 patients. These protocols are also contained in Garcia's memorandum that was dated May 20 but was released on June 5. Rationale During the DOH press conference, Vergeire again cited international and local experts as well as guidelines issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reiterate the rationale behind IATF's protocols. In an advisory on May 3, 2021, CDC stated: "You may have been exposed to Covid-19 on your travels. You may feel well and not have any symptoms, but you can still be infected and spread the virus to others. You and your travel companions (including children) pose a risk to your family, friends, and community for 14 days after you travel." The 14-day period is equivalent to the known incubation period of Covid-19. Vergeire said the RT-PCR test for the Covid-19 virus becomes more accurate on the sixth to seventh day from infection. Earlier, IATF Technical Advisory Group member Dr. Edsel Salvana said the cases diagnosed on the seventh day testing are 50 percent higher than those diagnosed on arrival. On the quarantine policy, Vergeire said the CDC had also shown evidence that the residual risk, or the risk of transmitting the virus even after a person goes into quarantine, goes down as the individual stays longer in quarantine. Based on the CDC guidance, Vergeire said the residual risk is around 3.0 percent on the seventh day of quarantine and goes down to less than 1.0 percent on the 10th day "That is the evidence that we use for the 10 plus four (days of quarantine) - 10 days of (facility) quarantine, seventh day testing, discharge on the 10th day if negative, and LGU to monitor for four additional days," Vergeire said. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| IATF hikes deployment ceiling for health workers Posted: 17 Jun 2021 07:33 PM PDT THE Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Thursday, June 17, 2021, increased the annual deployment ceiling for new hire healthcare workers (HCWs) for mission critical skills (MCS) to 6,500. HCWs falling under MCS with perfected contracts as of May 31, 2021, shall form part of the adjusted ceiling. Healthcare workers under government-to-government labor agreements shall, however, be exempted from this adjusted ceiling. The IATF also moved the effectivity date of the implementation of the testing and shortened quarantine protocols for inbound travelers who were fully vaccinated in the Philippines to June 22, 2021. The policy-making body also reiterated the strict enforcement of current testing and quarantine protocols for inbound international travelers in all ports of the country, regardless of any specific protocols that may be issued by the local government units. Member-agencies of the National Task Force Against Covid-19, specifically the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Health and the Bureau of Quarantine, the Department of Tourism, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Labor and Employment and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, among others, with their respective regional offices, attached agencies, and government-owned and controlled corporations, have been instructed to ensure strict adherence to the above-mentioned directive. Finally, the IATF revisited the use of face shields and resolved to recommend to the President the mandatory wearing of face shields in enclosed/indoor spaces of hospitals, schools, workplaces, commercial establishments (such as but not limited to food establishments, malls and public markets), public transport and terminals, and places of worship. (PR)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| DOH, FDA receive World No Tobacco Day Award Posted: 17 Jun 2021 07:30 PM PDT THE World Health Organization (WHO) recognized the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for their shared achievements in enforcing and advancing tobacco control measures in the country. Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO Representative to the Philippines, accorded the recognition to both Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III and FDA Director-General Rolando Enrique D. Domingo, who led policy changes to regulate tobacco products and e-cigarettes while implementing nationwide campaigns to help tobacco users quit. Abeyasinghe also lauded the joint efforts of the DOH and FDA in continuously improving tobacco control in the country, even amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. Among those cited were the following:
The DOH and the FDA both expressed their commitment to continue advancing policies and interventions on tobacco control. "Our tobacco control measures have always prioritized the health of Filipinos. We hope more Filipinos choose a healthy lifestyle especially with the COVID-19 pandemic", said FDA Director-General Rolando Enrique D. Domingo in his message of acceptance. "Through this award, we will continue to fight for the right to health of Filipinos. Let us all work together to promote a healthy lifestyle for our kababayan," Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III said. (PR)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Palace: Existing face shield policy remains in effect Posted: 17 Jun 2021 03:52 AM PDT THE use of face shields aside from face masks in most public places, especially enclosed spaces, remains in effect, Malacañang declared Thursday evening, June 17, 2021. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases resolved during its meeting Thursday afternoon to recommend the continued use of face shields in enclosed/indoor spaces of hospitals, schools, workplaces, commercial establishments, public transport and terminals, and places of worship. The commercial establishments include, but are not limited to, food establishments, malls and public markets. "While waiting for the President's decision on the matter, the existing policy on the use of face shields remains in effect," Roque said. The IATF made the recommendation a few hours after Roque confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte said face shields should only be used in hospitals. The IATF, which is led by the Department of Health (DOH), recommends policies related to coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) response to Duterte. At present, face shields are required aside from face masks in the following:
Read: Where to wear face shields Exempted from wearing face shields are "individuals engaged in strenuous activities/work, fine workmanship, operation of transportation vehicles and active transport." The proper wearing of face shields and face masks is among the minimum public health standards that the government is enforcing to minimize transmission of Covid-19. DOH officials have cited studies showing that face shields provide an additional layer of protection against the infectious disease. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Discrepancy in Pfizer vaccine deliveries noted Posted: 17 Jun 2021 03:23 AM PDT THE National Task Force Against Covid-19 (NTF) on Thursday, June 17, 2021, said the Philippines received only 2,276,820 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) a week ago. The number is 2,340 doses short of the 2,279,160 that Unicef Philippines and Gavi, Vaccine Alliance, two of the organizations that lead the Covax Facility, reported earlier. Margaretha Francis, communication officer of Unicef Philippines, confirmed to SunStar Philippines via email that 2,279,160 doses of the Pfizer vaccine were delivered to the Philippines on June 10. Together with the 193,050 doses of the same vaccine that were delivered on May 10, the Philippines should have received a total of 2,472,210 doses. The Gavi website also states that the Philippines has received 2,472,210 doses of Pfizer aside from the 2.556 million doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine. Covax has allocated a total of 7,056,210 doses for the Philippines, consisting of 4.584 million doses of AstraZeneca and 2,472,210 doses of Pfizer. The Philippines is expected to receive an additional donation of 2.028 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from Covax. As of June 17, the Philippines has taken delivery of 14,208,210 doses, including 9.0 million doses from Sinovac, 180,000 doses of Sputnik V and the vaccines from Covax The NTF, however, said the Philippines has received only 14,205,870 because the actual volume of Pfizer vaccine that arrived on June 10 reached only 2,469,870 doses. A personnel of NTF said in the Viber group for the media that the Department of Health (DOH) has sent a vaccine arrival report to the Unicef regarding the discrepancy. Unicef, which is the largest single vaccine buyer in the world, procures and delivers the vaccines for Covax, while Gavi coordinates the operation and fund-raising activities for Covax. The Philippines is among 92 low and middle-income economies that are eligible to receive vaccine donations or subsidized allocations through the Covax advance market commitment mechanism. The first delivery from Covax was made on March 4, 2021. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / Third Anne Peralta-Malonzo)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Former mayor in Maguindanao killed over illegal guns, drugs Posted: 17 Jun 2021 02:32 AM PDT AUTHORITIES killed on Thursday morning, June 17, 2021, a former town mayor in Maguidanao who allegedly supplied illegal firearms to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and engaged in illegal drugs operation, Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Guillermo Eleazar said. Eleazar said Montasser Sabal was arrested by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) operatives upon arrival at the Batangas Port Wednesday evening, June 16, via a roll-on-roll-off vessel from Mindanao. While on their way to the CIDG main office in Camp Crame, Quezon City, Sabal allegedly grabbed the gun of one of his police escorts which prompted the cops to shoot him. Sabal was declared dead at the San Juan City Medical Center. He had a standing arrest warrant for violation of Republic Act 9516, or Unlawful Manufacture, Sales, Acquisition, Disposition, Importation or Possession of an Explosive or Incendiary Device and of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Recovered from his vehicle were various firearms and ammunition and around 28 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) valued at P200,000. Arrested along with Sabal were his house helpers Norayda Nandang, 43, and Aika de Asis, 34, and his driver Muhaliden Mukaram, 36. Police also searched another vehicle parked at the port, which is also believed to be Sabal's, and also found various firearms, grenades, mortars and ammunition and P2.5 million worth of shabu. Also arrested were occupants of the parked vehicle identified as house helper Ailyn Compania, 45, and drivers Zuharto Monico, 28, and Wilson Santos, 41. Eleazar said Sabal was a member of the PNP Special Action Force from 1998 to 2008 with specialized training on intelligence, urban counter revolutionary warfare course, explosive ordnance disposal and sniper's course. He also served as the municipal mayor of Talitay from 2010 to 2013, and vice mayor of the same town from 2013 to 2016. "During his incumbency, he was charged by the Office of the Ombudsman and eventually suspended for failure to disclose his properties and business interests in his SALN from 2011 to 2015. Further, information revealed that he failed to initiate and propose legislative measures to the Sangguniang Bayan for the Municipality's anti-illegal drugs program as mandated under RA 9165," Eleazar said. "He was also considered as a narco politician guilty of dishonesty and neglect of duty that is why order for his dismissal was issued and affirmed by the Supreme Court. Siya yung mga nauna na napasama doon sa mga sinasabing narco politicians and ang basis naman natin nun is nagkaroon talaga siya ng kaso and warrant for his arrest for illegal drugs as well as illegal possession of explosives," he added Eleazar said Sabal was also allegedly involved in the Davao City bombing in September 2016, an act of terrorism owned by the BIFF. (SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| DOH reclassifies more recoveries as active cases, deaths Posted: 17 Jun 2021 02:07 AM PDT FOR the third straight day, over 300 cases tagged as recoveries were validated to be either active cases or deaths. In its case bulletin Thursday, June 17, 2021, the Department of Health (DOH) reported 6,637 new cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), 155 additional mortalities and 4,585 new recoveries. The new infections brought the total Covid-19 case count in the Philippines to 1,339,457, after the removal of 10 recoveries and two other duplicates. The additional mortalities included 107 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries but were validated to be deaths. Mortalities have exceeded 100 for three consecutive days now. The additional deaths reported on Thursday raised the Covid-19 death toll in the Philippines to 23,276. The case fatality rate increased to 1.74 percent, the highest in 11 weeks. The new recoveries brought the total to 1,257,774, or around 93.9 percent of the total case count. DOH removed 235 cases that were reclassified as active cases and 10 recoveries that were found to be duplicates. On June 15 and 16, DOH also reclassified 304 and 375 reported recoveries, respectively, as active cases. On June 11, 1,000 cases that were previously tagged as recoveries were reclassified as active cases. With the reclassification of the 235 recoveries to active cases as well as the new infections, the number of active cases in the country went up to 58,407 on Thursday. These constitute 4.4 percent of the Covid-19 case count. The daily positivity rate on June 15 declined to 11.9 percent as testing output improved to 44,435. Five laboratories failed to submit their data to the Covid-19 Document Repository System on June 15, DOH said. (Marites Villamor-Ilano / SunStar Philippines)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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