https://www.sunstar.com.ph/ |
- Duque: Covid-19 patients, close contacts should stay home on May 9
- PNP to look into Kerwin Espinosa’s threat from cops claims
- UniTeam keeps lead on Pulse Asia survey; Pacquiao overtakes Moreno
- Oil companies to implement price rollback on May 3
- 8 killed in Quezon City fire
- Malacañang declares May 3 a regular holiday
- PNP chief maintains regularity of Abra checkpoint operation
- Main witness in De Lima’s drug-related charges recants statements
| Duque: Covid-19 patients, close contacts should stay home on May 9 Posted: 02 May 2022 03:08 AM PDT HEALTH Secretary Francisco Duque III reiterated Monday, May 2, 2022, that even the close contacts of a person who tested positive for coronavirus should not go out to vote on May 9 to prevent the spread of the virus.In a radio interview, Duque said Covid-19 patients and their close contacts, especially the members of their household, should stay home or in isolation facilities as they may be sanctioned in accordance with Republic Act 11332, or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Disease and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.He said close contacts are assumed to also be carriers of the virus."Kung may sakit, naka-isolate ka, let them stay. Hindi puwedeng palalabasin mo tapos magkakalat. Hindi naman tama 'yun from a public health point of view," he said.(If you have the disease, then isolate yourself, let them stay home. You cannot allow them to go out and spread the virus. That's not right from a public health point of view.)Duque said they will have a meeting with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to "fine tune" such concerns with about seven days before the election.Comelec commissioner George Garcia said in a separate interview that individuals who tested positive for the virus, or those with symptoms of Covid-19 may still cast their vote on Election Day.He said they have prepared isolation polling precincts."May posibilidad din po na 'yung mismong may findings na na talagang Covid-19 positive ay nakalabas ng bahay o isolation facility kung saan siya naandon, wala tayong magagawa kundi pabotohin sila," he said.(There is a possibility that those coronavirus-positive can go out of their homes or isolation facility. We cannot prevent them from voting.)He said Covid-19 test results or even vaccination is not necessary for voters to be allowed to practice their right to take part in the election.During one of his recent Talk to the People Addresses, President Rodrigo Duterte urged the public to comply with health protocols during Election Day amid threats of another Covid-19 surge.In a press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said Mimaropa, Bicol and Eastern Visayas had a positive growth rate over the past two weeks, while the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Cagayan Valley and Central Visayas had a one-week positive growth rate."Gayunpaman, ang bahagyang pagtaas ng at least two and at most 30 cases ay hindi pa rin nagta-translate sa mas mataas na average daily attack rates," she said.Vergeire said they also recorded a slight increase in the nationwide intensive care unit utilization rate but it remains at low risk while hospital admission rate remains to be plateauing with a minimal decrease of 2.8 percent as compared to the week prior.She said the Philippines remains under minimal risk for Covid-19 infection."Overall, the national positivity rate is still at a slow decline at 1.2 percent from 1.3 percent from last week. Ito na rin ang pinakamababa nating na-record sa loob ng isang linggo simula nung 2021 -- mas mababa ng 23 percent kumpara sa pinakamababang naitala bago tayo magkaron ng Omicron situation," she said. (SunStar Philippines) |
| PNP to look into Kerwin Espinosa’s threat from cops claims Posted: 02 May 2022 01:23 AM PDT PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Dionardo Carlos has ordered police units to look into the claims of self-confessed drug lord Rolan "Kerwin" Espinosa that several cops pressured and threatened him to make false allegations against detained Senator Leila de Lima.In a press conference in Camp Crame on Monday, May 2, 2022, Carlos said he instructed the Internal Affairs Service (IAS) and the Directorate for Investigation and Detective Management (DIDM) to review the matter.De Lima has been detained at the PNP custodial center since 2017 over illegal drug-related charges.The charges came after she was implicated by several personalities into the illegal drug trade during a House probe, including Espinosa and former Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) officer-in-charge and deputy director for intelligence of the National Bureau of Investigation Rafael Marcos Ragos.Last week, however, Espinosa admitted that the allegations he made against De Lima, particularly in accepting millions worth of drug money from him to fund her senatorial race and in manipulating the illegal drugs trade inside the New Bilibid Prison, were all lies.He said he fabricated those stories due to the coercion, pressure and intimidation by the police.Ragos, for his part, also recanted his claims against De Lima, particularly in delivering money to her house from the convicted drug lords inside the NBP.He said he issued lies following the orders of then Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre and due to the threat against his and his family's lives.Unlike Ragos, Espinosa was not included as a witness in the charges against De Lima.Of the three illegal drug charges De Lima is facing before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court, one has already been dismissed. (SunStar Philippines) |
| UniTeam keeps lead on Pulse Asia survey; Pacquiao overtakes Moreno Posted: 02 May 2022 01:02 AM PDT THE UniTeam bets, including presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and vice presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, remained ahead of the race based on the latest survey conducted by Pulse Asia Research Inc.In an in-person survey conducted by the firm with at least 2,400 adult respondents from April 16 to 21, less than a month before the 2022 national elections, Marcos remained on top, garnering a score of 56 percent.Vice President Leni Robredo remained on the second spot at 23 percent, one percent lower as compared to the March 2022 survey of Pulse Asia.From fourth place in March, Senator Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao took one step ahead with seven percent vote, from six percent in the month prior, overtaking Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso.Domagoso's score went down by four percent, or from eight percent during the March survey to four percent in April. He is now at the fourth spot.The survey was conducted while Domagoso was in hot water over his calls for Robredo to withdraw her candidacy. Domagoso made the call on April 17.Senator Panfilo Lacson remained at fifth place with two percent vote based on the survey.At the bottom of the presidential survey were former presidential spokesperson Ernie Abella, Faisal Mangondato, labor leader Leody de Guzman, former Defense secretary Norberto Gonzales and lawyer Jose Montemayor Jr.For the vice presidential survey, Carpio maintained her lead, although her score decreased by one percent or from 56 percent in March to 55 percent.Senate President Vicente Sotto III remained at the second spot with 18 percent, two percent lower than the previous month.In third place was Robredo's running mate, Senator Kiko Pangilinan, who scored 16 percent.Fourth on the survey was Dr. Willie Ong with three percent, two percent lower than the previous month.Sotto and Ong both attended the joint press conference of presidential bets Moreno, Gonzales and Lacson that drew flak over the tirades they made against Robredo.For the senatorial survey, Pulse Asia said that half of the probable winners are either former or incumbent lawmakers.The top senatorial candidates based on the survey are as follows:* Radio personality Raffy Tulfo* Antique Representative Loren Legarda* Sorsogon Governor Francis Escudero* Actor Robin Padilla* Taguig City-Pateros Representative Alan Peter Cayetano* Senator Senator Sherwin Gatchalian* Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri* Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar* Former Senator JV Estrada Ejercito* Former Vice-President Jejomar Binay* Senator Risa Hontiveros* Former Senator Jinggoy Estrada(SunStar Philippines) |
| Oil companies to implement price rollback on May 3 Posted: 01 May 2022 10:33 PM PDT SOME petroleum companies will implement a rollback on fuel prices on Tuesday, May 3, 2022.Shell Philippines and Seaoil Inc. said the price of gasoline will decrease by P0.65 per liter and diesel and kerosene by P1.15.Cleanfuel and Petro Gazz will implement the same price decrease.The rollback will be effective at 6 a.m. except for Cleanfuel, which will implement the decrease at 8:01 a.m.Based on the updated year-to-date adjustments of the Department of Energy, the net increase in fuel prices stands at of P15.45 per liter for gasoline, P27.35 per liter for diesel, and P21.55 per liter for kerosene.Currently, oil prices in Metro Manila range from P66.45 per liter to P89.75 per liter for gasoline, and from P68.20 per liter to P85.20 per liter for diesel.There has been a global oil crisis due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and experts said the energy prices in the world are set to remain high until 2024. (SunStar Philippines) |
| Posted: 01 May 2022 10:05 PM PDT EIGHT individuals were killed in a fire that broke out in an informal settlement area inside the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman campus in Quezon City on Monday morning, May 2, 2022.Based on initial report, the fire broke out before 5 a.m. Monday and it quickly spread among at least 80 houses made of light materials.Six of the fatalities were found in a room of one of the affected houses.Around 250 families were affected by the fire, which was declared out at around 7 a.m.Personnel of the Bureau of Fire Protection are still conducting an investigation to identify what caused the blaze. (SunStar Philippines) |
| Malacañang declares May 3 a regular holiday Posted: 01 May 2022 10:00 PM PDT THE Malacañang has declared May 3, 2022, Tuesday, as a regular holiday amid the observance of the Eid'l Fitr (Feast of Ramadhan), which marks the end of the Islamic holy month of the Muslim community."The entire Filipino nation should have the full opportunity to join their Muslim brothers and sisters in peace and harmony in the observance and celebration of Eid'l Fitr, subject to the public health measures on the national government," Proclamation 1356, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, May 1, stated.The Office of the Bangsamoro Mufti announced that the Eid'l-Fitr would start on Monday, May 2.An employee who works on a regular holiday is entitled to 200 percent of salary for that day. (SunStar Philippines) |
| PNP chief maintains regularity of Abra checkpoint operation Posted: 01 May 2022 09:53 PM PDT PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) Chief Dionardo Carlos on Monday, May 2, 2022, stood by the claims of his men that the group of Pilar Vice Mayor Jaja Disono disregarded a Commission on Elections (Comelec) checkpoint that resulted in a gunfight and the killing of one security aide."With due respect to another law enforcement agency and investigating, sige, go ahead, wala kaming problema, hindi kami magtatago," he said in a press conference in Camp Crame."But clearly, they disregarded the checkpoint, there are armed men, and there are firearms in the particular incident," he added.Carlos made the statement following the filing of murder and perjury charges by the National Bureau of Investigation against several police personnel and key officials of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), including police regional irector Brigadier General Ronald Lee and Abra acting provincial director Colonel Maly Cula.He maintained the regularity of the conduct of checkpoint in the area supposedly amid an intelligence report about the use of armed men in the area."Saka may intelligence information. Pakinggan ninyo ang briefing ng RD. Gaano na sila katagal doon. Hindi naman sila biglang sumulpot na kinse sila doon na bigla na lang sila armado," said Carlos."So planado 'yan on the part of who utilizes this armed group. Fifteen, dose sila. May umuwi, may nag-leave, merong umayaw, kaya nabawasan," he added.On March 29, Disono, along with his security aides on board a van, involved in a shootout after they allegedly ran over a checkpoint.Disono's security escort, Sandee Boy Bermudo was killed in the incident.The vice mayor said, however, that it was an ambush, prompting them to seek the investigation of the NBI together with Bermudo's sister.Based on the initial investigation of the NBI, there was no visible checkpoint in the area at the time the said convoy passed through based on the copies of CCTV.It said the police deliberately fired upon the vehicle carrying Disono.The NBI also said that the police mobile, which the cops reported to have been hit by a bullet during the "shootout," was seen pursuing the target van without a bullet hole.Police said the police mobile was hit by a bullet from Disono's group.The PNP earlier filed charges for murder and disobedience against person in authority against Disono's group.Disono was also charged with violation of the Expanded Trafficking in Persons Act based on the claims of his security escorts who surrendered to the police following the shootout that they were not informed that they will serve as security escorts.He is also facing charges for violation of the election code, particularly the prohibition in the employment of body guards amid the campaign period.The said incident was one of the election-related violence recorded by the PNP.PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo said as of May 1, only 10 out of the 52 violent incidents recorded since the beginning of the election period have been confirmed.She said 14 incidents are still being verified. (SunStar Philippines) |
| Main witness in De Lima’s drug-related charges recants statements Posted: 01 May 2022 09:44 PM PDT FORMER Bureau of Corrections (Bucor) officer-in-charge and deputy director for intelligence of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Rafael Marcos Ragos has admitted to making up lies to link former Justice secretary now Senator Leila de Lima to the illegal drug trade.In his four-page affidavit signed on April 3, 2022, Ragos said he was ordered by then Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre to manufacture false information against De Lima and corroborate the statement of former intelligence agent Jovencio Ablen Jr."As far as I know and based on my professional relationship with Sec. De Lima, she is incapable of doing anything illegal, much less engage in the illegal drug trade or accept money from Bilibid inmates. All of my allegations to the contrary in my affidavits and House and court testimonies are all fiction, false, and fabricated," the affidavit stated."I was forced to execute the above affidavits and deliver the above House and court testimonies against Sec. De Lima and Ronnie Dayan due to threats of being detained myself for the crime of engaging in the illegal drug trade that I did not commit," it added.In September 2016, Ragos executed an affidavit saying that he, together with Ablen, delivered two P5 million to De Lima's residence in November and December 2012.He said the money came from convicted drug personalities, including Peter Co.Ragos also said in a supplemental affidavit that he collected money from Jorge Goff on behalf of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) caterer, prison inmate and German Agoho for his application for pardon for the benefit of De Lima and his security aide/driver Dayan.He said the money, as told by De Lima, will be used for her candidacy in the 2013 elections.Ragos testified before the Muntinlupa regional trial court for the drug charges against De Lima and Dayan.He said none of these were true, noting that the only time he went to De Lima's house was when he and his wife helped her to decorate her house for Christmas.Ragos said in September 2016, a week before he testified before the House inquiry into the proliferation of illegal drugs inside the NBP, he was called to a meeting by Aguirre in a hotel in Pasay City where the plan against De Lima was ironed out."During said meeting, then Sec. Aguirre interrogated and coerced me to admit something that did not happen. He escorted me to another room where Ablen was, and they showed me a copy of a statement. I asked them: 'Ano yan?' Ablen responded: 'Ginawa namin ni Esmeralda yan, may kopya sya n'yan,'" he said."When I asked Sec. Aguirre what they want me to do, he said: 'Mag-execute ka ng affidavit mag-corroborate ka sa statement ni Alben, kung hindi, alam mo naman ang mangyayari,'" he added.Ragos was a co-accused of De Lima and Dayan in one of the illegal drug trading cases filed before the Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court. He was arrested on February 17, 2017.De Lima was arrested on February 24 of the same year. One of the three charges against De Lima had already been dismissed by the Muntinlupa court.Ablen testified against Ragos, who implicated him to illegal drugs operations.In order for the cases against him to be dropped, which will lead to his release, Ragos said he was told by Aguirre to make more lies to further pin down De Lima.He said personalities, including former Justice undersecretary Raymund Macate, made his life difficult during his detention.Ragos said while in trial, Prosecutor Laurence Joel Taliping told him to testify properly as he was being monitored by the Malacañang.He said he had no choice but to do as he was told, as he feared for his and his family's life."I am executing this affidavit freely, voluntarily, truthfully, and without any mental reservation whatsoever, in order to absolve Sec. De Lima and Ronnie Dayan, who are completely innocent, from entirely false and absolutely fabricated criminal charges," said Ragos."I beg the forgiveness of these innocent persons who suffered from my transgression of bearing false witness against them. I hope they find it in their heart to do so, knowing that I was only forced to transgress against them to save my own life," he added.Last week, self-confessed drug lord Rolan "Kerwin" Espinosa also admitted that the allegations he made against De Lima, particularly on her links to the illegal drug trade inside the NBP and in accepting millions worth of drug money from him to fund her senatorial race, were all lies, saying that he was "coerced, pressured, intimidated and seriously threatened by the police" to make such a statement.De Lima, one of the staunchest critics of President Rodrigo Duterte, particularly his drug war, launched in July 2016 a probe into the alleged extrajudicial killing amid the administration's crackdown on illegal drugs.She presented Edgar Matobato, who claims to be a former member of the "Davao Death Squad," which he said has links to Duterte, the former mayor of the city. It was repeatedly denied by Malacañang and Duterte himself.The said probe got the international spotlight on Duterte's bloody drug war. (SunStar Philippines) |
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