Tuesday, April 13, 2021
What Is Most Important To God?
When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8:3-4
When the astronauts on the Apollo 8 were speeding back to planet earth from their rendezvous with the moon, they reflected on the vastness of what they had seen in space by reading the words of the eighth Psalm where David wrote, “When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; What is man that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him? For Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour” (Psalms 8:3-5, KJV).
You don’t have to take a journey into space to be impressed with the vastness of the heavens. But you do have to get away from the lights of the city on a moonless night to look into the vastness of the heavens and marvel at God’s handiwork.
It was the shepherd boy of Israel turned king who wrote the words of Psalm 8. Undoubtedly, David spent many a night on the rocky hills of Judea with his father’s sheep, pondering the vastness of creation. David probably did not know that the closest star is Alpha Centauri, yet that star is 26 trillion miles away. That is 6 with 21 zeros after it.
If you are tempted to feel that you just do not amount to much in the sight of God because of the vastness of the world and the greatness of population, then try to remember that there is a great deal of difference between space and value. We are overwhelmed by the vastness of creation, yet the vastness of empty space is not as significant as the importance of life.
Think of it in these terms. A very wealthy couple live in a home filled with valuable paintings and art objects, yet they have no children. One day God blesses their home with a little baby boy–their only child. The nursery is up on the third floor of the great mansion, and it is fixed up as nicely as any nursery anywhere. Then one night, the smell of smoke fills the house and the father awakens to realize that his home is on fire.
What is his first concern? The paintings hung on the wall, or the stocks and bonds hidden in the safe? No, not on your life. He would run for the baby boy in the nursery, because what money can buy is not as important as life–human life. That child is his flesh and blood.
Friend, that is why you were important enough for God to be willing to send His Son to speak to you of a Father’s greater love. In Psalm 8, David contrasts man and the Son of Man who came to planet Earth. The “Son of Man” was a prophetic term that spoke of a coming redeemer who identified with our humanity–His name is Jesus Christ. Luke, writing in the New Testament, said, “The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10, KJV).
God is far more concerned with the inner space of your heart than He is the outer space of our great universe. The created universe–the starry hosts of the heavens–have a message. They speak of God’s great power; but the message of the cross speaks far louder, for it speaks of God’s willingness to bring us into harmony with Him. Yes, as David cried, “How excellent is Your name, O Lord, in all the earth.”
Resource reading: Psalm 8:1-9
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/what-is-most-important-to-god/
Duterte, Putin discuss cooperation vs COVID-19 pandemic
(UPDATE) — President Rodrigo Duterte and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin committed to jointly address the COVID-19 pandemic during their teleconference Tuesday, the former's office said.
The two leaders also noted "the steady progress" in their countries' "defense and security cooperation" during their 30-minute conversation, according to a statement issued by Duterte's office. Manila and Moscow are marking the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic ties this year.
Pledging to "cooperate in the fight against COVID-19", Duterte and Putin discussed the "global and regional vaccine landscapes, noting that vaccines such as Russia's Sputnik V must be mobilized to as many countries as possible."
Up to 20 million doses of Sputnik V have been ordered by the Philippines, according to the statement. Of which, 500,000 are expected to arrive this month, an official said earlier in the day.
Sputnik V is among 4 COVID-19 vaccine candidates granted emergency use authorization by the Philippines' Food and Drug Administration.
Duterte and Putin "stressed the importance of ramping up global production and supplies" of the Sputnik V vaccine as they "underscored the need for continuing and strengthened collaboration to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic", the statement read.
Meanwhile, the two leaders agreed to sustain their countries' security relations as Putin said there are "many opportunities for greater cooperation in the fields of trade and investments, agriculture and energy development," said the statement.
Duterte, who has repeatedly praised Putin, conveyed again his invitation for the latter to visit the Philippines, which the Russian leader welcomed, added the statement.
Duterte met Putin in Russia in 2017 and 2019. Putin, who has been in power for more than two decades, has never made an official trip to the Philippines.
In 2016, Duterte called Putin “my favorite hero.” Last year, Duterte said he was willing to join clinical trials for Russia's COVID-19 vaccine, which the country is looking to procure.
Putin, who consolidated his autocratic rule by amending the Russian constitution, has a long list of opposition leaders, civil groups and journalists who have become “enemies of the people.”
He has emphasized his commitment to stability and security, elevating the status of security forces loyal to him, known as siloviki. These security forces now hold high positions in Russian politics, business and society.
Moscow's ties with Washington are at a post-Cold War low, with US President Joe Biden saying he believes his Russian counterpart is a killer who deserves to be hit with sanctions for meddling in US politics, charges the Kremlin denies.
Biden is an ally of former US President Barack Obama, who Duterte once cursed for criticizing his war on drugs.
In October 2016, while in China, Duterte announced his "separation" from the United States, the only treaty ally of the Philippines.
Duterte has continued to hurl anti-US remarks.
In February, Duterte told Washington to "pay" if it wanted to keep its Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with Philippines, a pact central to Washington's Asia strategy.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/13/21/duterte-putin-phone-call-2021
PH logs 8,571 more COVID-19 cases, total nears 885,000
(UPDATE) — The Philippines on Tuesday posted 8,571 more COVID-19 cases, days after the government eased lockdown restrictions in the capital region and 4 nearby provinces.
This brings the country's total number of coronavirus infections to 884,783.
According to the health department, the day's relatively low figure of newly-reported COVID-19 cases was due to the fewer testing laboratories that operated on Sunday, April 11.
"Noong araw ng Linggo, 36 na laboratoryo ang hindi nagsagawa ng testing operations," the Department of Health (DOH) noted.
(On Sunday, 36 laboratories did not conduct testing operations.)
The health agency also logged 137 new fatalities, raising the death toll to 15,286.
Active infections reached 165,534, accounting for 18.7 percent of the country's cumulative total cases. Of these, 96.9 percent are experiencing mild symptoms, while 1.8 percent are asymptomatic, 0.5 percent are severely ill, and 0.4 percent are critically ill.
The ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group said Tuesday's number of active cases is considered the 5th highest since the pandemic reached the Philippines, following April 3, 2021's 165,602 tally.
The research group noted that the number of active cases reported in previous days has been adjusted for duplicates.
Recoveries, meanwhile, increased by 400 to 703,963, which account for 79.6 percent of the total recorded cases.
ABS-CBN Data Analytics Head Edson Guido noted that the country has been recording an average of over 10,300 new COVID-19 cases daily in the past week.
Out of the 27,900 individuals who last underwent testing for the virus, 18.3 percent turned out positive for the disease.
Meanwhile, 13 duplicates have been excluded from the country's overall COVID-19 tally. Eight of those were recovered cases.
A total of 54 cases initially tagged as recoveries turned out also to be deaths after the health agency's final validation.
Nine DOH-accredited laboratories failed to submit data on time.
Guido had earlier said that the number of new coronavirus cases dips during Tuesdays and Wednesdays because of delayed test results from laboratories during the weekends.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire had admitted this observation, as some laboratories, most especially the private ones, stop operations on weekends to give way for disinfection.
ICU BEDS IN NCR 85 PCT UTILIZED
Hospitals in the capital region and nearby provinces are still filled up due to a stream of fresh admissions, weeks since stricter lockdown restrictions was imposed to stem the alarming virus spread.
To decongest health facilities, doctors have told mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients to consider home care instead.
Based on the DOH's latest bulletin, 85 percent of some 700 dedicated intensive care units (ICU) in the capital region are already used up, while 70 percent of some 3,800 isolation beds in the region are likewise occupied.
Some 62 percent out of 800 ventilators are currently being used in Metro Manila, the bulletin also showed.
Nationwide, 66 percent out of the 1,900 ICUs are already utilized, while 51 percent of the 13,500 isolation beds are also filled.
Ventilators across the country are 47 percent in use.
In the coming months, the inter-agency task force will be adding more than 2,000 beds in different areas for moderate and severe cases, as well as for mild and asymptomatic cases, National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/13/21/ph-logs-8571-more-covid-19-cases-total-nears-885000
Erap now negative of COVID-19, condition improves - son
(UPDATE) — Former president Joseph "Erap" Estrada has tested negative for COVID-19 and is showing signs of improved health, his son Jinggoy said on Tuesday.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News, the younger Estrada said the former chief executive and Manila mayor was also wheeled out of the intensive care unit earlier in the day.
"When you’re wheeled out of the ICU and you’re going to be transferred to a regular room, siguro (maybe), for me, being a non-doctor, I think he is off the hook already, " Jinggoy told ABS-CBN News in a phone interview.
"Pero siyempre (but of course), I will not preempt what the doctor will say,” he added.
The former senator also pointed out that is a "welcome development" for their family, most especially that Estrada also tested negative for the coronavirus.
"Parang nabunutan na kami ng tinik,” he said.
(It felt like a thorn has been removed.)
In his Facebook post early Tuesday, the younger Estrada pointed out that based on his latest medical bulletin, Erap could now be transferred to a regular room as his condition is improving.
Despite the positive developments regarding Estrada's health, Jinggoy pointed out that his father would still require high flow oxygenation "but at a much reduced rate."
"He has been allowed to resume soft diet... Mentally, he is oriented, conversing normally and appears to be in good spirits," he added.
In a separate statement, JV Ejercito shared a photo of his father at the hospital.
"Prayers indeed moves mountains," Ejercito said in his Facebook page, as he thanked supporters for praying for his father.
On Sunday, Estrada was singing following extubation, based on a video shown by one of his nurses.
Meanwhile, Jinggoy said the Estrada family would implement stricter visiting protocols when the former president is discharged from the hospital.
“I will have to be strict already. Ayoko nang maulit na mangyari sa tatay ko,” said Jinggoy.
(I don't want this to happen again to dad.)
The Estrada patriarch was sent to the intensive care unit last week after catching pneumonia. He was then intubated and mildly sedated.
On April 9, he was removed from ventilator support after supposedly responding well to treatment.
Ejercito earlier Tuesday said another family member tested positive for COVID-19.
"Praying for my Tita Pilarica, the eldest sister of my dad. She is 93 and is positive, having a hard time to breathe," he said.
Estrada, a former actor who served as President from 1998 until 2001, is turning 84 on April 19. He did not finish his six-year term after he was ousted, following accusations of corruption.
He was last in public service as Mayor of Manila City from 2013 until 2019.
He was convicted of plunder in 2007 and sentenced to life imprisonment. But his successor, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, pardoned him a month later.
The Philippines is battling a new surge of coronavirus infections, with some hospitals in the capital region announcing full occupancy amid a stream of fresh admissions.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/13/21/joseph-estrada-erap-covid19-coronavirus-update
DFA reports 889 new COVID-19 cases among Filipinos abroad, highest this year
The number of Filipinos abroad who have contracted COVID-19 rose to 18,001 as 889 new cases were recorded Tuesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
The DFA also reported 913 new recoveries and 30 new fatalities.
The additional infections, recoveries and fatalities are the highest for 2021, so far. The DFA said the spike is due to the substantial number of new cases and recoveries in the Middle East.
Those currently being treated abroad for the disease are 5,850, as 11,038 of those infected have recovered, while 1,113 have died.
There are currently 91 countries/territories with Filipinos stricken with COVID-19.
Those undergoing treatment are broken down as follows by region: 1,033 in the Asia Pacific, 905 in Europe, 3,827 in the Middle East and Africa, and 85 in the Americas.
In the Philippines, COVID-19 has so far sickened 884,783 people. The tally includes 15,286 deaths, 703,963 recoveries, and 165,534 active cases.
The new coronavirus is believed to have first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019.
Data from US-based Johns Hopkins University showed that more than 136 million people globally have contracted COVID-19, with the United States, Brazil, India, France, and Russia leading countries with the most number of cases.
The UK in December last year detected a reportedly more infectious COVID-19 strain, leading some countries to impose new lockdown and travel restrictions to stem its spread. New variants were also reported in South Africa, Brazil and the Philippines.
More than 2.9 million have died worldwide because of the disease, while some 77.8 million already recovered.
Private hospitals group nagbabala kontra 'upcasing' para sa PhilHealth benefit
Tiniyak ngayong Martes ng isang samahan ng mga pribadong ospital na hindi nila kukunsintihin ang kanilang mga miyembro na mapatutunayang nakikipagsabwatan sa mga pasyente para makakuha ng mas malaking benepisyo sa Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth).
Ayon kay Private Hospital Association of the Philippines (PHAPI) President Dr. Jose Rene de Grano, sa ngayo'y wala pang napapaulat sa kanilang mga miyembrong ospital na sangkot sa "upcasing" para sa mga benepisyo ng PhilHealth.
Naniniwala si De Grano na mahirap gawin ang pamemeke ng mga dokumento o requirements para lamang makakuha ng mas malaking benepisyo sa PhilHealth.
"Medyo mahirap gawin 'yon ano, because in the first place, itong mga gumagawa ng RT-PCR test are accredited laboratories. They cannot just falsify 'yong medical certificate na 'yan," ani De Grano sa isang panayam.
Bago nito, nauna nang umapela ang PhilHealth sa publiko na i-report sa kanila ang mga insidente ng upcasing.
Sa ilalim ng upcasing, nakikipagsabwatan ang health care provider sa pasyente na may minor respiratory symptoms, gaya ng hika, para palabasing may COVID-19 ito at makakuha ng mas malaking PhilHealth benefit.
Handa umano ang PHAPI na panagutin ang miyembrong ospital nila kapag napatunayang sangkot sa ganoong gawain.
"Initially, we'll have to investigate on it kung totoo bang nangyari 'yon... Kung proven na talagang ginawa 'yon, ang pinaka-sanction diyan, maalis sila sa membership ng aming organization," ani De Grano.
Iniutos nitong gabi ng Lunes ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte sa mga ahensiya ng pamahalaan na huwag magtipid kung ang paglalaanan ng pondo ay para sa COVID-19 response.
Philippines summons China envoy as ships linger illegally in West PH Sea reef
(UPDATE) — The Philippines on Tuesday said it summoned Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian on Monday over the "illegal lingering presence" of China's maritime militia fleet in Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea.
In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs said it demanded the withdrawal of Chinese ships in the waters, the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) within the South China Sea.
China lays expansive claims over the waters despite a July 2016 UN tribunal invalidating it.
"The DFA expressed displeasure over the illegal lingering presence of Chinese vessels in Julian Felipe Reef," the statement said, adding that this has been a "source of regional tension."
"The DFA reiterated the firm demand of the Philippines that China ensure the immediate departure of all its vessels from the area of Julian Felipe Reef and other maritime zones of the Philippines," it said on the meeting between acting Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Elizabeth Buensuceso and Huang on Monday.
The DFA also reiterated the arbitral ruling, citing how it has invalidated China's historical 9-dash line claim to the resource-rich waters. The Philippines had initiated such arbitration proceedings in a bid to stop Chinese incursions into its EEZ.
"The 12 July 2016 Award in the South China Sea arbitration ruled that claims to historic rights, or other sovereign rights or jurisdiction that exceed the geographic and substantive limits of maritime entitlements under UNCLOS, are without lawful effect," it added, referring to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
China was also reminded of "proper decorum and manners in the conduct of their duties as guests of the Philippines" following its missive against Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana calling him "unprofessional."
"Both sides affirmed the use of peaceful settlement of disputes in addressing their differences on the SCS/WPS issue," the statement added.
'ONLY 9 SHIPS LEFT'
Quoting information from the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said there were only 9 Chinese ships left in Julian Felipe Reef, reiterating that it is “time to go.”
Chinese diplomats earlier said the boats anchored near the reef - which numbered more than 200 when it was first sighted on March 7 - were sheltering from rough seas and that no militia were aboard.
The DFA, however, vowed to file a diplomatic protest every day until the last Chinese ship is gone from the reef.
“As I said, while it may well be traditional fishing grounds, tradition yields to law and the law on the matter is UNCLOS and The Arbitral Award and the common rules of statutory construction,” Locsin said.
Locsin said the issue is a “goddamned distraction from the beneficial potential of the good relations” that the two countries have built under President Rodrigo Duterte's administration, noting that such incursions "achieve nothing in law."
"Fishing is not an act of possession nor a claim of ownership; fishing is just fishing. [A]nd even if you take your damned time fishing in the same spot it is still only what you claim it is—fishing," the official explained.
He added that China and the Philippines' partnership "has so much potential" that could also benefit the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) but it has supposedly gone to waste.
"What a waste of great opportunities for good. Let’s give it a rest,” he said in a tweet.
FORMER TOP DIPLOMATE WELCOMES MOVE
Former Philippine top diplomat Albert del Rosario, meanwhile, expressed support for the DFA's move.
In a statement, Del Rosario said the DFA acted consistently with the country’s constitutional duty to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity in deciding to summon the Chinese envoy.
“In doing so, the DFA has acted consistent with our collective constitutional duty to protect our ‘national sovereignty, territorial integrity, national interest, and the right to self-determination.’ This is truly the ‘independent foreign policy’ contemplated by our Constitution, which is to protect our national heritage in the West Philippine Sea,” said Del Rosario, the DFA chief who led the Philippines' arbitration proceedings against China.
Del Rosario said the Chinese vessels violate the country’s fisheries law.
“As long as Chinese vessels remain in Julian Felipe Reef, which is part of our Exclusive Economic Zone, such Chinese vessels violate our laws, especially the Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 which provides, in part, that ‘it shall be unlawful for any foreign person, corporation or entity to fish or operate any fishing vessel in Philippine waters,’” he said.
“Our law also provides that the ‘entry of any foreign fishing vessel in Philippine waters shall constitute a prima facie presumption that the vessel is engaged in fishing in Philippine waters.’”
“The lingering Chinese presence in Julian Felipe Reef is an open and continuing violation of our laws. It is but right that our leaders do whatever is necessary to address this open and continuing insult to Filipinos,” he said.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian last week said that Beijing does not intend to establish permanent presence in the area, but reiterated his country’s claim that Julian Felipe Reef, which they call Niu'e Jiao, is part of China’s Nansha Islands.
Analysts and several countries earlier warned China of its incursions in the West Philippine Sea, as it could threaten regional stability.
The United States, Japan, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom have voiced their concerns on the matter. - With reports from Willard Cheng and Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News
Duterte's COVID-19 vaccine refusal 'temporary' – spokesman
President Rodrigo Duterte's refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19 is "temporary", his spokesman said on Monday, as public confidence in the jabs remains low.
Duterte on Monday said he would “waive” his slot in the vaccination drive, and that whoever wanted it could have it. He said those who "would live and live productively" should be prioritized in the inoculation.
"Panandaliang sentimyento po ni Presidente iyong sinabi niya kahapon na habang hindi pa sapat po ang mga bakuna, hahayaan na muna niya na mauna ang ating mga kababayan bago siya," said the President's spokesman Harry Roque.
(The President's statement yesterday–that he will let our compatriots go first while vaccines are not yet enough–is temporary.)
"Siguro po ‘pag talagang dumagsa na iyong ating supply at kinakailangan madaliin na talaga ang pagbabakuna sa lahat, eh iyon po iyong panahon na magpapabakuna ang ating Presidente," he said in a press briefing.
(Perhaps when the supply increases and the vaccination needs to be sped up, that the time when our President will get vaccinated.)
Duterte has said he prefers the COVID-19 vaccine from Chinese state firm Sinopharm, which has yet to secure emergency use authorization in the Philippines.
Duterte last year revealed that some members of his security team took unauthorized Sinopharm shots.
Rejecting talk that the President has been vaccinated in secret, Roque said: “Hanggang speculation lang po ‘yan.”
(That's just speculation.)
Vice President Leni Robredo and several others earlier urged Duterte to get vaccinated in public to boost public confidence in the shots.
About 6 in 10 Filipinos are hesitant to get vaccinated against COVID-19, a recent Pulse Asia survey showed.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/13/21/duterte-waive-vaccine-covid-public-confidence-sinopharm
Labor relations ng Pilipinas, Tsina, hindi apektado ng tensyon sa West PH Sea: DOLE
Malaki ang paniwala ni Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III na hindi magkakaroon ng negatibong epekto sa labor relations ng Pilipinas at China ang tensyon sa West Philippine Sea.
“Sa palagay ko hindi makakaapekto 'yan sa labor relations natin because notwithstanding what is happening in the West Philippine Sea, nakatanggap pa rin tayo ng communication from them that they are willing to finalize our bilateral labor agreement with them,” ayon kay Bello.
Ito'y sa gitna ng hindi pa rin pag-alis ng Chinese ships sa West Philippine Sea, ang exclusive economic zone ng Pilipinas sa South China Sea na inaangkin ng Tsina ang halos kabuuan.
Nitong Lunes, ipinatawag ng Pilipinas ang Chinese ambassador sa bansa at sinabing dapat umalis na ang lahat ng mga barko sa Julian Felipe Reef. Nauna na ring naglabas ng diplomatic protest ang Pilipinas laban sa Tsina dahil dito.
Sa panayam sa TeleRadyo Martes ng umaga, sinabi ni Bello na magkakaroon ng bilateral agreement ang Pilipinas sa Tsina, at sa katunayan ay magbubukas din ng tatlong Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) sa nasabing bansa.
“They are asking us already to put up our POLOs and we are already [in] the process of putting one in Beijing, in Shanghai, and in Shenzhen,” sabi ni Bello.
Ang pagbubukas aniya ng mga POLO sa ibang bansa ay indikasyon na mayroong trabaho para sa mga Filipino worker doon.
Isa umano sa trabahong inaasahang madeploy doon ay mga English teacher.
“They are asking for our English teachers. Ang daming teachers. Saka 'yung musicians natin, mga entertainers are very popular in China,” saad ni Bello.
Nasa $US3,000 umano ang inaasahang sahod ng mga English teacher sa China.
Palace: Duterte reappearance proof he is ‘fit, healthy’
President Rodrigo Duterte is “fit” and “healthy,” Malacañang said on Tuesday, after an absence of nearly two weeks fueled concerns on his condition.
Duterte, 76, resumed on Monday his weekly televised address that was canceled last week after dozens in his security team caught COVID-19.
“Ang paglabas ng ating Pangulo ay patunay na ang Punong Ehekutibo ay nananatiling fit, healthy, not to mention, mukhang bumata sa kaniyang edad,” said his spokesman Harry Roque.
(The appearance of our President is proof that he fit, healthy–not to mention, looking younger than his age.)
During Monday's speech, Duterte responded to concerns, saying, “If you are saying that I have a sickness that would prevent me from exercising the powers of the presidency, there's none.”
Duterte, the oldest to become Philippine President, had said he suffers from Barrett’s esophagus, an inflammation of the tube connecting the mouth to the stomach.
The President, in various instances, has said he also struggled with back pains, migraines and Buerger's disease, which is linked to blockages in the blood vessels associated with heavy smoking during his youth.
A former aide last week released videos and photos showing Duterte jogging, golfing, and motorbike-riding in an apparent bid to quell rumors on his health.
"The reason I can swing (a golf club) and ride the motorcycle is because I still can," said Duterte.
The hashtag #NasaanAngPangulo (where is the President) trended on Twitter last week.
DUTERTE VACCINATION
The Philippines is battling one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in Asia, with hospitals in the capital Manila overwhelmed with record daily infections, while authorities face delays in the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines.
Duterte on Monday said he would “waive” his slot in the vaccination drive, and that whoever wanted it could have it.
“Ang unahin natin ‘yong medyo pagka-nabigyan ng vaccine, there’s a chance that he would live and live productively,” he said.
(Let's prioritize people who, if given the vaccine, there’s a chance that he would live and live productively.)
Duterte's vaccine sentiment is “temporary,” while COVID-19 shots are still scarce, said Roque.
“Siguro po ‘pag talagang dumagsa na ang ating supply at kinakailangan madaliin na talaga ang pagbabakuna sa lahat, ‘yon po ang panahon na magpapabakuna ang ating Presidente,” he said.
(Perhaps when our supply increases and the vaccination should be sped up, that's the time when our President will get vaccinated.)
Rejecting talk that the President has been vaccinated in secret, Roque said: “Hanggang speculation lang po ‘yan.”
(That's just speculation.)
Duterte last year revealed that some members of his security team took unauthorized COVID-19 shots.
His government is facing renewed criticism over its handling of the pandemic after a surge in COVID-19 infections that forced authorities to reimpose stricter curbs in a bubble that includes Metro Manila and nearby provinces for 2 weeks.
The restrictions were eased from April 12.
The Philippines has recorded more than 876,000 COVID-19 cases and over 15,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
– With reports from Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News; Reuters
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/13/21/duterte-fit-healthy-nasaan-ang-pangulo
Duterte spokesman denies ‘palakasan’ in getting COVID-19 hospital care
President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman on Tuesday denied that he used influence to secure hospital treatment for COVID-19, as infections swamped facilities and forced other patients to wait in line for days.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said he “was in bad shape” when he was admitted to the Philippine General Hospital last week. Like other hospitals, PGH in Manila only admits COVID-19 patients if they have moderate to severe symptoms, he said.
“Hindi po pupuwede ang palakasan dito,” Roque said in a press briefing, when asked to assure the public that he did not use his status to get ahead of other COVID-19 patients.
(There is no use of influence here.)
Roque said he experienced COVID-19 symptoms last Monday, April 5. His doctors, who are all from the state-run PGH, believed that his “condition merited admission,” he said.
He said he knew his long-time doctors before entering government service, back when he was still a professor at the University of the Philippines, which operates PGH.
Roque said he started feeling better on Sunday after taking anti-viral remdesivir.
UN-CHRISTIAN?
The Palace spokesman on Monday was also asked to explain how he got a hospital room, when other COVID-19 patients reportedly died while waiting for admission to healthcare facilities.
Roque had said, “With all due respect… I think that’s an un-Christian question.”
Manila Bishop Broderick Pabillo on Tuesday Roque's statement was “uncalled for.”
“Papaano naging 'un-Christian' 'yon? It was an innocent question,” he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.
(How was that 'un-Christian,' it was an innocent question.)
“Ang public figures dapat maging transparent sila sa pagsagot sa mga tao. 'Yan ang problema. Pag nagtatanong, sa halip na sagutin ang tanong, ad hominem ang kanilang sagot, titirahin ang nagtatanong. Hindi naman tama 'yun.”
(Public figures must be transparent in answering questions. That's the problem. When people ask, instead of answering the question, they respond with ad hominem, they attack the person. That's not right.)
In his latest briefing, Roque said, “Kaya siya un-Christian, para bagang ‘pag ikaw ay nakakuha ng kuwarto sa panahon ngayon, e mayroon kang ginawa na nang-isa ka sa kapwa mo.”
(It us un-Christian because if you get a hospital room these days, it's as if you did something to get ahead of others.)
Roque said he has been instructed to look for a temporary treatment and monitoring facility where he could transfer beginning Wednesday. In the meantime, he said his doctors are just monitoring the effect of remdesivir on his heart.
Roque previously underwent a heart procedure, which prompted him to withdraw his 2019 Senate bid. He has also said he was obese and diabetic.
People with health risks are more prone to developing severe symptoms of COVID-19.
Roque first announced he tested positive for the coronavirus on March 15. He was found negative for the disease 10 days later.
It was unclear when he again contracted the virus, or whether he was suffering from further effects of his earlier illness.
The official was the fifth member of Duterte's Cabinet to contract the illness.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/13/21/harry-roque-covid-hospital-unchristian-pgh-palakasan
500 Years of Christianity: 100 tao bininyagan bilang Katoliko sa Cebu
Nasa 100 tao ang nabinyagan bilang mga Katoliko ngayong Martes, ikatlong araw ng triduum, sa The National Shrine ng Our Lady of the Rule sa Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
Ang triduum ang paghahanda para sa paggunita sa kauna-unahang binyag na nangyari sa Cebu 500 taon na ang nakalilipas.
Kasama sa mga nabinyagan ang 7 kasapi ng pamilya Magpantay.
Ayon sa inang si Rosemarie, matagal na niyang gustong maging Katoliko at natutuwa siyang matupad ito kasabay ng pagdiriwang ng 500 anibersaryo ng Kristiyanismo sa Pilipinas.
Lahat ng mga nabinyagan ay may edad 20 pataas.
Sinabihan ni Bishop Patrick Parcon ang mga nabinyagan na sila ay mga anak ng Diyos na dapat mahalin at irespeto, at walang sino man ang dapat sumira sa kanilang mga karapatan.
Masaya si Parcon na makabalik sa The National Shrine ng Our Lady of the Rule dahil doon aniya siya nabinyagan 58 taon na ang nakalilipas.
Noong Linggo, unang araw ng triduum, bininyagan ang 100 sanggol sa Cebu City, habang nitong Lunes ay 100 ang nagpakumpil sa Mandaue City.
Sa Miyerkoles nakatakda ang reenactment ng kauna-unahang binyag ng mga Pilipino. Pangungunahan ni Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines Charles Brown ang misa rito.
-- Ulat ni Vilma Andales
'Magtrabaho ka na lang, puro ngawngaw': De Lima says Duterte should focus on pandemic
Detained Sen. Leila de Lima on Tuesday hit back at President Rodrigo Duterte, who mocked her for being in detention over her alleged involvement in the proliferation of illegal drugs in the national penitentiary.
In a statement, De Lima said Duterte should focus on doing his job as President amid the rising COVID-19 infections and death toll in the country instead of attacking members of the opposition.
"Mr. President, maawa ka naman sa taumbayan. Namamatay na mga mahal nila sa buhay ako pa rin ang problema mo?" De Lima said.
(Mr. President, have pity on the people. Their loved ones are dying and yet you're problem is still about me?)
"Magtrabaho ka na lang Duterte. Kung nagtrabaho ka lang sana hindi tayo umabot sa ganito. Huwag ka na lang puro ngawngaw," she said.
(Just work, Duterte. If you only worked, we would not have reached this point. Stop yapping.)
De Lima also chided Duterte for allegedly going on "photoshoots" that showed him playing golf while millions of Filipinos are struggling with the pandemic.
"Habang nasa kung saang lupalop siya at nagpapa-photoshoot habang nagmemeryenda, nagja-jogging, naggo-golf at kung anu-ano pang pampalipas oras, araw-araw, daan-daan ang binabawian ng buhay at nauulila—ina, ama, kapatid, kaibigan, kamag-anak, katrabaho, mga mahal sa buhay," she said.
In a pre-recorded speech aired on Monday, Duterte said De Lima deserved to "endure prison while we enjoy life."
Duterte verbally attacked De Lima after the senator called out the President for his seeming lack of presence and control over curbing the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
The opposition senator has been detained in the Philippine National Police's headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City since February 2017 after she was accused of getting kickbacks from drug lords in the New Bilibid Prison to fund her senatorial bid in 2016.
De Lima has repeatedly denied the allegations, saying the Duterte administration has been using these charges to persecute her for being a vocal critic of the human rights abuses observed during the President's war on drugs.
In February, a Muntinlupa court junked one of the 3 drug-related cases filed against De Lima.
PSA: Nakatapos sa Step 1 ng National ID registration, umabot na sa 28M
Umabot na sa 28 milyon ang mga taong nakapagrehistro na para sa step 1 ng pagkuha ng National ID, ayon sa Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
“Umabot na kami ng 28 million pero ito po ay para sa tinatawag naming Step 1. 'Yung Step 1, ito 'yung pagkuha ng demographic characteristics, pag-schedule kung kailan ka pupunta sa isang registration center para sa biometric capture. Meron pang Step 2 na kailangang pagdaanan 'yung ating 28 milion,” pahayag ni PSA Assistant Secretary Rosalinda Bautista.
Sa panayam sa TeleRadyo Martes ng umaga, sinabi ni Bautista na kasama na sa 28 milyon ang Metro Manila. Isa rin aniya sa malaking hamon nila ngayong pandemya ay ang pag-capture ng biometrics ng mga nagpapa-register.
“Nag-slowdown kami simula nitong Holy Week while we are actually ramping up doon sa gamit ng aming registration kit. Ibig sabihin magbubukas kami ng more registration centers, nagkaroon naman po kami ng challenge na may mga LGUs na naintindihan naman namin kung bakit kailangang magkaroon ng suspension sa mga operations ng regisration centers dahil hindi ok ang situation ng COVID,” sabi niya.
Ngayong buwan din aniya ay mag-uumpisa sila ng institutional registration kung saan sila mismo ang pupunta sa mga private at government institution para magrehistro.
“Pag nagkakaroon ng lockdown, ginagamit namin ito para hindi masayang 'yung panahon para magparehistro. Dahil bawal lumabas, nakikipagusap kami sa mga institution para magawan sila ng schedule. ito pong NCR, nag push forward kami ng kanilang schedule so beginning April 18 meron na po kaming tinitingnan sa Pateros o sa Muntinlupa ay magkakaroon na po ng registration."
Layon ng National ID na mapadali ang pagbibigay ng serbisyo sa publiko at mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga low-income families na makapag-bukas din ng kanilang mga account sa bangko.
“Aside from opening a bank account, isa pang vision sa National ID ay para po mapadali ang mga transaction sa gobyerno nung may ID. Kagaya ngayon, maaaring nahuli kami para sa distribution ng ayuda, makakatulong ang National ID. Pero ini-expect namin na pagka ang gobyerno natin ay naka synchronize na lahat ng ID, pag ikaw tumanggap ng ayuda hindi makakatanggap ulit ng panibagong ayuda sa iba pang lugar dahil identified. Ito na po ang gagamitin natin na single ID na recognized by all government agencies,” paliwanag niya.
Target ng PSA na makapagrehistro ng 70 milyong katao para sa taong ito.
“Malaking budget ang kakailanganin para magawa namin ang 70M, alam naman natin ngayon ang pangangailangan ng resources ng atin gobyerno pero kung di po namin maabot ang 70M, siguro maabot po namin ang 50M,” sabi niya.
194,000 doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine set to arrive in May - Galvez
Some 194,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine made by drug maker Moderna are expected to arrive in the Philippines by May, Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr said Tuesday.
The government has placed an order of 13 million doses from the American pharmaceutical company and private sector, led by billionaire Enrique Razon, also bought 7 million doses.
Galvez said there has already been an agreement with the World Bank to facilitate the payment of the government's order.
"It is expected to arrive, 194,000, most likely this coming May," he told ANC's Headstart about Moderna's vaccines.
The private sector has agreed to follow the prioritization in the rollout of Moderna jabs which will be outlined by the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group, he said.
Food and Drug Administration Director General Eric Domingo earlier said Moderna is expected to apply for an emergency use authorization this week. The regulator has so far granted this permit only to Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Sinovac, and Gamaleya Institute.
The Philippines began its vaccination program on March 1, with about 1.14 million doses administered so far, according to ABS-CBN News' monitoring. This reflects 0.19% of the target 70 million Filipinos vaccinated by the end of the year.
ECQ should have been extended for 2 more weeks: health professionals
The enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila and 4 nearby provinces should have been extended for 2 more weeks to curb the spread of COVID-19, a group of doctors and health workers said Tuesday.
"We are actually recommending for an extension of the ECQ because we believed that with the MECQ (modified enhanced community quarantine), some of the restrictions that we imposed during the ECQ will actually be removed. So, this will again imperil the transmission of COVID-19 in the country," Dr. Maricar Limpin of the Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19 told ANC.
The capital region and the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal will be under MECQ -- the third strictest of 4 lockdown levels -- from April 12 to 30. The so-called NCR Plus bubble is home to over 24 million people.
Santiago City in Isabela, Quirino province and Abra were also placed under the same quarantine restrictions for the same period.
For Limpin, vice president of Philippine College of Physicians, an extension of ECQ for another 2 weeks would have deterred people from going outside, which could drive again the transmission of COVID-19.
Retaining the hard lockdown will also urge the public to strictly adhere to minimum health protocols, she added.
Limpin, who works at the Philippine Heart Center, said most hospitals were still filled up due to the recent rise of coronavirus infections.
Health facilities are also running low on medicines to treat COVID-19 cases, she added.
"The emergency room is not just 100 percent filled up but it is more than a 100 percent filled up. Can you imagine how we are dealing with this? We are ready to respond to the needs of the people but we need to reduce the number of people getting COVID-19 infection," Limpin said.
To date, the Philippines has logged over 876,000 COVID-19 cases, of which more than 15,000 died from the disease.
The country currently has over 157,000 active cases or patients deemed infectious.
St Luke’s still full but fewer COVID patients lining up at ER, says hospital chief
St. Luke's Medical Center remains at full capacity but there are fewer COVID-19 patients at its emergency room, its chief medical officer said Tuesday.
This could be due to additional government isolation facilities, more virus beds in other hospitals, the rise of tele-consult services, and a possible decrease in COVID-19 cases following a 2-week strict lockdown, according to Dr. Benjamin Campomanes.
"Although full capacity pa rin kami, ang nahalata namin is ang pila namin sa emergency from mild to moderate ay nabawasan," Campomanes told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.
(Although we're still at full capacity, we can see that the line in our emergency room from mild to moderate has decreased.)
St. Luke's, which has 250 COVID-19 beds in its 2 hospitals in Taguig and Quezon City, has been accepting only moderate to critical virus cases, Campomanes said.
It does not reserve beds for any COVID-19 case, and it is best for patients to call ahead before going to the hospital, he added.
"Wala hong ganu'n. Pwedeng iyong nag-aantay sa ER ay hingalo na, kaya hindi ho kami naga-accept ng reservation para sa COVID," he said.
(There's no such thing. Those who are waiting in the ER could be dying, so we do not accept reservation for COVID.)
"Pipila ho talaga kayo. Madaming VIP sa'min na pumila bago makakuha ng kuwarto."
(You will need to wait your turn. Many VIPs lined up before they got a room.)
Patients who experience difficulty breathing or whose oxygen saturation rate has gone below 92 percent must be confined, according to Campomanes.
"Ang importante po talaga is paghinga, acute respiratory syndrome ito. Baga ang tinatamaan," he said.
(Breathing is what's important. This is an acute respiratory syndrome. It will hit your lungs.)
Non-COVID patients are urged to visit the hospital as it has a separate emergency room for such cases, he added.
The hospital's virus transmission rate remains low and infections are usually contracted in the community, Campomanes said.
"OK po naman. Meron ho kaming mass testing na nangyayari ngayon," he said when asked about the hospital's frontliners.
(They're OK. We're doing mass testing right now.)
The Philippines on Monday reported 11,378 more COVID-19 cases, bringing its total to 876,225. Of this figure, 157,451 or 18 percent are active infections.
It is forecast to reach 1 million virus cases by the end of the month, OCTA Research earlier said.
PAGASA: LPA outside PH develops into tropical depression, but unlikely to hit land
A low-pressure area outside the Philippine area of responsibility developed into a tropical depression early Tuesday, the state weather bureau said.
The storm is forecast to intensify in the next 48 hours and could enter the PAR between Friday night and Saturday morning as Bising, said PAGASA weather forecaster Ariel Rojas.
"Mababa ang tiyansa na ito ay posibleng tumama ng kalupaan," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.
(It has a low chance of hitting land.)
The weather disturbance was last estimated 1,640 kilometers east of Mindanao, moving northwestward at 10 km per hour with maximum winds of 45 kph and gusts of up to 55 kph, according to PAGASA.
Lalaki patay matapos pagbabarilin sa harap ng bahay niya sa Cagayan
Iniimbestigahan ng mga awtoridad ang pamamaril ng riding-in-tandem sa isang lalaki sa bayan ng Tuao, Cagayan, Linggo ng umaga.
Kinilala ang biktima na si Rico Callueng, 56, contractor at residente ng Barangay Fugu.
Sa imbestigasyon ng mga pulis, nakaupo sa harap ng kanilang bahay ang biktima nang dumating ang 2 salarin at bigla na lang siya barilin.
Agad tumakas ang mga suspek.
Nadala sa ospital ang biktima, pero idineklara siyang dead-on-arrival dahil sa tama ng bala sa dibdib.
Narekober sa pinangyarihan ng krimen ang 3 basyo ng bala ng kalibre .45 na baril.
Inaalam pa ang pagkakakilanlan ng rinding-in-tandem at kung ano ang kanilang motibo sa pagpatay sa biktima. — Ulat ni Harris Julio
Mga ospital sa Oriental Mindoro nasa critical level na, ayon sa gobernador
Nasa critical level na ang occupancy rate ng mga ospital sa Oriental Mindoro dahil sa mabilis na pagkalat ng COVID-19 sa lalawigan, ayon sa gobernador ng probinsiya nitong Lunes.
Ani Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito Dolor, nakapasok na sa kaniyang lalawigan ang UK variant ng COVID-19,
"Ang atin pong ICU bed ngayon, halos puno na. Noong isang linggo po 92 percent, ang isolation bed natin 90 percent okupado na, kung hindi natin mapapababa ito patuloy itong mapapuno," ani Dolor.
"Hindi lang po COVID-19 cases ang kailangang ipasok sa ICU. Marami po tayong may sakit na kababayan, inatake sa puso, mga dina-dialysis, mga critical, mga taong naaksidente. At kung hindi natin iiwasan ang patuloy na pagtaas ng COVID-19 sa ating lalawigan, mapupuno ang ating mga ospital."
Base sa opisyal na tala, higit may 300 aktibong kaso ng COVID-19 ang Oriental Mindoro bagama’t ito ay unti-unti nang bumababa. Ang lungsod ng Calapan ang may pinakamaraming bilang na nasa higit 100 kaso.
Higit 1,600 na mga cartridge mula sa DOH ang inaasahang darating para magamit sa sa COVID-19 testing pero maaantala ang pagte-test dahil tatlong personnel na naka-assign sa laboratory ay nagpositibo rin sa naturang sakit.
Dahil sa pagtaas ng mga kaso ng COVID-19, iniutos ni Dolor ang paghihigpit sa pagpasok sa Oriental Mindoro. Lahat ng uuwi sa lalawigan ay dapat kumuha ng travel coordination pass sa mga bayan at lungsod na uuwian.
Ang travel pass ang siyang ipapakita din sa pier ng Batangas at Calapan.
Pagdating sa bayang uuwian, kailangan sumailalim sa anti-gen test pero hindi na kailangan nito kung may maipapakitang negative result ng RT-PCR test.
Lahat ng mga turista mula sa"NCR Plus" at mga lugar na may COVID-19 variant ay bawal pumasok sa Oriental Mindoro, maliban kung may RT-PCR test negative result ang mga ito.
Mahigpit ding ipinatutupad sa lalawigan ang curfew mula 10 p.m. hanggang 4 a.m.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/13/21/mga-ospital-sa-oriental-mindoro-nasa-critical-level-na-ayon-sa-gobernador
Duterte: Gobyerno pwedeng mag-take over sa mga hotel kung kulang ang patient facilities
Joyce Balancio, ABS-CBN News
Inihayag ulit ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na may kapangyarihan ang gobyerno para mag-take over sa mga hotel at motel para magamit ito bilang pasilidad para sa COVID-19 patients.
Ito'y matapos sabihin ni Health Sec. Francisco Duque na inatasan na nila ang mga opsital na magreserba na ng hotel rooms na maaaring paglagyan agad ng mga doktor at nurse na nagpositibo sa COVID-19.
“Government can expropriate 'yong mga hotels, motels, whatever kung kulang ang — ang mga halfway houses natin 'yong naghihintay. So we kind of have the power. The government has the power to just expropriate. Puntahan na lang at sabihin gagamitin,” ani Duterte nitong Lunes sa isang public briefing.
Sinabi ni vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. na, sa utos ni Duterte sa PhilHealth na bayaran na ang valid claims ng mga ospital, maitataas na ang health care capacity ng mga ospital.
Ani Galvez: “Iyong pagbayad po ng PhilHealth ng more or less P9.577 billion for NCR, Region IV, at saka Region III, ay nangako po sila na mage-expand po sila ng kanilang mga ICU beds. At nangako po sila na mage-expand sila ng 164 po na ICU beds at mago-open po sila ng mga additional wards and beds na humigit-kumulang po na 1,157 beds for moderate and severe case."
Sa tantiya niya umano, dapat nasa 2,000 ang ICU beds ng bansa para sa severe at critical cases, pero ngayon nasa 1,395 lang ito.
Tumutulong naman aniya ang mga LGU para makapagdagdag pa ng mga kama sa mga ospital.
Mungkahi ni Galvez: “At ito po ay nangako rin po sila na ‘yong mga city ng Quezon City, Taguig, Caloocan, Manila, Pasay, Valenzuela, San Juan, Navotas, Parañaque at Makati . . . Na magkakaroon po sila ng additional 30 ICU beds para sa ating mga critical patients. And also additional 1,350 regular COVID beds for moderate, mild and asymptomatic."
Inutos naman ni Duterte sa mga ahensya ng gobyerno na huwag magtipid kung ang paglalaanan ng pondo ay para sa COVID-19 response.
Handa aniya siyang suportahan ang anumang gagatusin ng gobyerno basta legal ito ay dumaan sa tamang proseso.
"Hindi ito panahon sa tipid. Ilarga mo lahat ‘yan kailangan ng tao. Maski hindi pa kailangan ilagay mo lang diyan tutal aabot rin ‘yan," ani Duterte.
Samantala, pinasisilip naman ng Pangulo kung maaaring dagdagan pa ang modular beds para makatulong sa pagiging punuan ng mga ospital.
Higit P2-M halaga ng hinihinalang shabu nakuha sa Angeles City
Higit P2 milyong halaga ng hinihinalang shabu ang nasabat ng pulisya sa isang buy-bust operation sa lungsod ng Angeles, Pampanga, Lunes ng hatinggabi.
Nakuha ang 3 plastic bag ng naturang kontrabando, na nasa 300 gramo ang bigat at aabot sa P2,040,000 ang street value.
Kinilala ang suspek na si Ton-ton, isang high value target na dati na ring nahuli sa pagkakasangkot din sa ilegal na droga.
Mahaharap sa kasong paglabag ng Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act ang suspek.--Ulat ni Gracie Rutao
Special non-working holiday declared in Cebu City to honor 1st baptism in PH 500 years ago
President Rodrigo Duterte has approved a Cebu City council resolution declaring a special non-working holiday there on Wednesday, April 14, in commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines.
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma announced the development in a speech on Monday during a cultural presentation.
Cebu City councilor Joel Garnera, who authored the resolution, added that Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea approved the measure.
The commemoration will include the re-enactment of the first baptism of Cebuano natives 500 years ago by Ferdinand Magellan’s crew, which introduced the Philippines to Christianity.
The national quincentennial anniversary of the First Easter Mass in the Philippines was celebrated on April 4, 2021, kicking off the Catholic Church’s commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christianity in the Philippines with all parishes all over the country observing the simultaneous opening of the Jubilee Year. — Report from Vilma Andales
‘Unahin natin ’yung mabubuhay pa’: Duterte di na interesado magpabakuna kontra COVID
Joyce Balancio, ABS-CBN News
Inihayag ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na hindi na siya magpapabukuna kontra COVID-19.
Sa kaniyang naging public address Lunes ng gabi, sinabi niyang handa siyang ibigay na lang sa iba ang bakuna na dapat ilaan sa kaniya.
Taliwas ito sa mga una na niyang sinabi noon na handa siyang unang mabakunahan at mapag-eksperimentuhan ng bakuna kontra COVID-19.
Kalaunan binawi rin niya ito at sinabi naman niyang kung babakunahan siya ay sa huli na lang ng pila.
Ani Duterte: "Ako magwe-waive ako, magwe-waive ako, kasi 70 and above . . . Sa 70 and above ano ang makuha mo na dream, dream of what? Living until kingdom come? Ako mag-waive ako, kung sino gusto sa slot ko ibigay ko. Wala ako masyado, ako masyado, sa ano... I am not fatalistic actually na kung panahon ko na, if its COVID or ebola o disgrasya, wala ako illusion about life and death if anyone wants to have it, they can have it."
Dagdag pa ni Duterte, mas mabuting ibigay na lang aniya ang bakuna sa taong marami pang magagawa para sa bayan.
"Ang unahin natin iyong mabubuhay pa. Come to think of it, ang unahin natin iyong medyo 'pag nabigyan ng vaccine there is a chance that he would live, and live productively . . . Wala kami masyado maibigay sa ating bayan, sa edad namin," aniya.
Samantala, nagbigay naman ng ulat si Food and Drug Administration Director General Eric Domingo sa status ng mga bakuna sa bansa.
Pinoproseso pa rin aniya ang emergency use authorization application ng Barrat Biotech at ng Janssen para sa kanilang mga bakuna, habang hinihintay naman ang pagsusumite ng application ng Moderna at Novavax vaccines.
Umano’y miyembro ng Abu Sayyaf arestado sa Sulu
Arestado ang isang umano'y miyembro ng Abu Sayyaf Group sa bayan ng Omar, Sulu Linggo ng madaling araw.
Kinilala ang suspek na si Berhamin Ellih na may kasong 25 counts of arson. Siya ay itinuturong sangkot sa paninira at panununog ng maraming bahay sa Omar noong 2016.
Sangkot din umano si Ellih sa pagdukot sa 5 Indian nationals noong Enero 2020, at siyang boat operator sa nangyaring kidnapping sa Sabah, Malaysia noong 2000.
— ulat ni Gracie Rutao
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/13/21/umanoy-miyembro-ng-abu-sayyaf-arestado-sa-sulu
Sinas claims none arrested in 'NCR Plus' for not wearing face mask, face shield
More than 3,400 Filipinos were arrested during the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the "NCR Plus" bubble, according to Philippine National Police chief Gen. Debold Sinas on Monday night.
Sinas, in a briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte, said law enforcers nabbed 3,430 and fined 8,266 others in the bubble — which consists of Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal — for violating the "Reporting of Communicable Diseases Act" (RA 11332) from March 29 to April 12.
More than 14,000 were fined and over 1,000 were ordered to do community service also in "NCR Plus" due to curfew violations.
But according to data from Sinas, the PNP didn't arrest anyone for not wearing face masks and face shields, or holding mass gatherings, despite reports.
Under Section 9 of RA 11332, persons can be arrested if they did the following:
(a) Unauthorized disclosure of private and confidential information pertaining to a patient’s medical condition or treatment;
(b) Tampering of records or intentionally providing misinformation;
(c) Non-operation of the disease surveillance and response systems;
(d) Non-cooperation of persons and entities that should report and/or respond to notifiable diseases or health events of public concern; and
(e) Non-cooperation of the person or entities identified as having the notifiable disease, or affected by the health event of public concern.
Earlier, a doctor was arrested without warrant and was taken under the custody of the Cainta Police in Rizal province for almost four days for cycling without a face shield, despite a memorandum from the country's inter-agency COVID-19 task force (IATF) allowing cyclists from mandatory use of face shields when biking.
Despite the memo, the doctor was charged. Sen. Leila de Lima had condemned the arrest.
"A doctor who could be saving patients' lives was detained merely because the authorities failed to properly discern and apply the guidelines involving the use of a face shield while riding on a bike," she said.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra earlier this month advised the IATF not to order the arrest or detention of violators and impose community service instead.
More than 100,000 people were arrested from March to September of last year as a result of the implementation ECQ, including Quezon City residents waiting for food assistance, individuals holding protests actions in Manila and Cebu, and activists organizing relief missions without a quarantine pass in Bulacan.
A quarantine breach complaint was also filed against Sinas over a "mañanita” or surprise birthday party in May last year.
No less than President Rodrigo Duterte “pardoned” Sinas, whom he promoted to head the PNP in November last year.
FDA: 5 more COVID-19 vaccine brands yet to get EUA in PH
Five more COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers have yet to get emergency use authorization (EUA) in the Philippines, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director General Eric Domingo said Monday night.
Domingo, in a briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte, said those still processing their applications are India's Bharat Biotech, Johnson & Johnson and Sinopharm.
Bharat Biotech applied for an EUA last January 22, but they are still lacking proof of good manufacturing practice.
Johnson & Johnson's Janssen, on the other hand, applied for an EUA last March 31.
"We hope to finish within the week," Domingo said about Johnson & Johnson's application.
Domingo also said someone told them that Sinopharm is interested in applying for an EUA for its vaccine, but it has yet to submit requirements.
"Ang hindi pa malinaw po sa atin ay Sinopharm. May sumulat po sa amin na gustong mag-apply pero noong hiningian po namin ng requirements, hindi pa po nila ibinibigay," he said.
(What's still unclear is Sinopharm. Someone sent us a letter, informing us that they want to apply but they did not give the requirements that we asked for.)
Moderna and Novovax have yet to apply for an EUA, Domingo added.
The FDA has so far granted EUA to Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Sinovac.
The Philippines has vaccinated at least 1 million people against COVID-19, Malacañang said on Monday, as the country battles a surge in coronavirus infections.
A total of 1,007,356 people have received their first of 2 vaccine doses, while 132,288 already took two COVID-19 shots. In total, the Philippines has administered 1,139,644 doses since March 1, said Palace spokesman Harry Roque.
The Philippines aims to vaccinate 70 million people or two-thirds of its population this year to achieve herd immunity against the coronavirus.
Those vaccinated include 965,169 of the country's 1.7 million health workers, who are the top priority in the inoculation, said Roque.
Most of vaccine recipients are from Metro Manila, followed by Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Central Visayas, Davao Region, SOCCSKSARGEN, Ilocos, Northern Mindanao, and Western Visayas regions, said Roque.
The Philippine has received 2.5 million COVID-19 shots from Beijing-based Sinovac Biotech, and 525,600 AstraZeneca doses from vaccine-sharing COVAX Facility.
The Philippines has recorded 876,225 COVID-19 cases, among the highest in Asia, as of Monday. Of these, 157,451 or 18 percent are active.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/13/21/fda-5-more-covid-19-vaccine-brands-yet-to-get-eua-in-ph