Monday, April 19, 2021
Mga Muslim nagalit sa pagpasok ng 2 pulis na nakasapatos sa mosque
MARAWI - Humingi ng tawad sa publiko ang hepe ng Lanao del Sur Regional Police matapos magalit ang mga Muslim sa pagpasok ng dalawang pulis sa isang mosque sa Marawi City noong Sabado.
Nakuhanan ng litrato ang dalawang pulis na suot ang kanilang mga sapatos sa loob ng mosque.
Binatikos nga mga Muslim na netizens ang mga pulis dahil sagrado umano ang mosque at bawal ipasok ang ano mang madumi na bagay. Gawi ng mga Muslim na maghugas bago pumasok sa mosque.
Kinumpirma ni Lanao del Sur Police Provincial director Col. Rex Derilo na Muslim rin ang dalawang pulis at pumasok ang mga ito para mag-monitor at inspeksyon sa mga mosque upang masigurong sumusunod pa rin sa health protocols ang mga nagsisimba ngayong Ramadan.
Ayon sa dalawang pulis, nakalimutan nilang hubarin ang kanilang mga sapatos dahil sa pagmamadaling makaalis dahil may iba pang mahalagang lakad.
Nagpahayag naman ang ilang netizens ng pagtanggap nila sa paghingi ng tawad ng mga pulis.--Ulat ni Roxanne Arevalo
What to Do When Your Friends Don’t Like Each Other
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12, NIV
“Dear Dr. Sala,” writes an 8-year-old friend of Guidelines, “my name is Amy and I have a problem with my friends. Missy won’t like me if I like Aimee! I like both of them but I don’t understand! I don’t know what to do! Could you tell me…?” Signed, “Amy–your 8-year-old friend.”
One of the greatest compliments I receive–at least, from my point of view–is the number of children who respond to Guidelines.
Amy has a problem. She’s 8 years old, but her problem is very much of an adult problem as well. How do you handle the politics of friendship? How do you maintain balance when one friend doesn’t like another? That is not necessarily a children’s problem. Scores of adults draw lines of friendship and put people on one side or the other.
Amy, it is easy for me to suggest that you try to explain that you want to be friends with both girls, and that you are not going to make a decision to be nice to the one and not-so-nice to the other. But it doesn’t always make the problem go away. I remember when my daughter, Bonnie, was about the same age, a girl who had been a “best friend” decided that she didn’t like her any more. Bonnie was crushed. All attempts at friendship were rebuffed. She never knew why.
We live in a broken, sinful world, and that fact often creates bitterness, hatred, and revenge among people who don’t understand the high cost of living with brokenness.
There is one thing which I hope you can learn, Amy. We don’t have to make decisions and order our lives based on what other people think of us. It is liberating to learn that no one in all the world can make you stop loving him or her, and no one can make you choose to turn your back and hurt someone else.
One of the great lessons that parents can teach is that in spite of the consequences, it is OK to be yourself, to make your own decisions, to choose to do right no matter what others do.
Jesus made it so plain that we ought to treat others as we would like them to treat us. We call it the “Golden Rule.” He said, “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).
The fact is, we grow up and live in a sinful world, and apart from the grace of God which changes our lives, we are constantly going to have to cope with wrong and injustice. We cannot control what people do to us, but we are fully in control of how we choose to treat them.
I’m thinking of a brother who shared his heart, saying, “I was happily married and I thought we were getting along pretty well when I came home one night and my wife told me, ‘I don’t want to be married to you anymore.'” He said that everything he had worked for was gone with that one sentence. “I just couldn’t make her happy from that point on” he sadly recounted.
Amy, there is one more thought that I would like to share with you. My experience has been that if someone will be a friend with you only if you refuse to be a friend to someone else, eventually that person may side with someone else against you. Should you lose the friendship of that person, you haven’t lost a real friend. You’ve only lost the friendship of an acquaintance. It is a hard lesson for an 8-year-old to learn, but one that you can benefit from for the rest of your life.
I also want to remind you, that Jesus will be a friend who remain closer than a brother. He said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So, we may say, the Lord is my helper; I shall not fear what men shall do unto me. Remember Jesus said, “In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets”
Resource reading: John 15:12-15
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/what-to-do-when-your-friends-dont-like-each-other/
Typhoon Bising maintains strength as it moves north
Typhoon Bising (international name Surigae) maintained its strength as it continues to move north, the state weather bureau said Monday afternoon.
The country's second storm this year will bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Bicol region, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran and the northern portion of Leyte, PAGASA said in its 5 p.m. weather bulletin.
The following areas were placed under tropical cyclone wind signal no. 2, where winds of up to 120 kph may be expected in at least 24 hours, which may cause old wooden electric posts to be tilted or downed:
Catanduanes
Eastern portion of Camarines Sur eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Siruma, Tinambac, Lagonoy, Garchitorena, Caramoan, Goa, Tigaon, San Jose, Presentacion, Sagnay, Buhi)
Eastern portion of Albay (Tiwi, Malinao, Tabaco City, Malilipot, Santo Domingo, Bacacay, Rapu-Rapu, Legazpi City, Manito)
Eastern and central portions of Sorsogon (Castilla, Sorsogon City, Prieto Diaz, Gubat, Barcelona, Casiguran, Juban, Magallanes, Bulan, Bulusan, Irosin, Santa Magdalena, Matnog)
Northern Samar
Northern portion of Samar (Santo Nino, Almagro, Tagapul-An, Calbayog City, Santa Margarita, Gandara, Matuguinao, San Jose de Buan, San Jorge, Tarangnan, Pagsanghan, Catbalogan City, Paranas, Jiabong, Motiong, Hinabangan, San Sebastian)
Northern portion of Eastern Samar (San Julian, Sulat, Taft, Can-Avid, Dolores, Maslog, Oras, San Policarpo, Arteche, Jipapad)
Storm signal no. 1, which may cause slight damage to some houses of very light materials or makeshift structures in exposed communities, was hoisted over the following areas:
Eastern portion of Cagayan Lal-Lo, Gattaran, Alcala, Baggao, Amulung, Solana, Iguig, Tuguegarao City, Enrile, Peñablanca, Camalaniugan, Aparri, Buguey, Santa Teresita, Gonzaga, Santa Ana)
Isabela
Quirino
Northern and central portions of Aurora (Baler, Dipaculao, Dinalungan, Casiguran, Dilasag)
Eastern portion of Quezon (Calauag, Guinayangan, Tagkawayan, Buenavista, San Narciso, San Andres) including Polillo Islands,
Camarines Norte
Rest of Camarines Sur
Rest of Albay
Rest of Sorsogon
Masbate including Burias and Ticao Islands
Rest of Samar
Rest of Eastern Samar
Biliran
Leyte
Northern portion of Cebu (Tabogon, Borbon, San Remigio, Bogo City, Medellin, Daanbantayan) including Bantayan and Camotes Islands
Bising was last estimated 500 kilometers east of Infanta town, Quezon, moving slowly north northwestward.
It was packing 195 km per hour (kph) maximum winds near the center and gusts of up to 240 kph, according to PAGASA.
It was forecast to move generally north or north northwest until Wednesday evening to Thursday morning. It will then move northeast or east northeast away from the Luzon landmass, PAGASA said.
Bising is expected to gradually weaken from its current intensity throughout the forecast period.
The weather bureau warned that very rough to very high seas will be experienced over the northern and eastern seaboard of Luzon (5.0 to 12.0 m), rough to very high seas over the northern and eastern seaboard of Eastern Visayas (2.5 to 7.0 m), and rough to very rough seas over the northern and western seaboard of Northern Luzon (2.5 to 4.5 m) and the eastern seaboard of Caraga (2.5 to 4.5 m).
Rough seas are also expected over the remaining seaboards of localities where wind signals are in effect and the eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental (2.5 to 4.0 m), while moderate to rough seas may be experienced over the western seaboard of Central Luzon (1.2 to 3.0 m).
Sea travel is risky for all types of seacraft over these waters, especially those under storm signals, it said.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/19/21/philippines-bising-update-april192021
Ex-president Erap celebrates 84th birthday in regular hospital room
(UPDATE) - Former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada celebrated his 84th birthday Monday inside a regular hospital room, according to his son.
In a photo provided to ABS-CBN News by former Senator Jinggoy Estrada, the former president is seen with a cake on his bed.
The younger Estrada was the only one allowed to enter their father’s hospital room given the latter's delicate condition.
"Hindi siya puwedeng mapagod eh. Hindi siya puwedeng mag-entertain ng maraming bisita," Jinggoy said.
Jinggoy’s siblings, Jackie and Jude, also have comorbidities, the former senator said.
"Nag-blow s'ya ng candle. Pinapanood namin sya ng mga kapatid ko, mommy (Loi) ko. At masaya rin naman kahit virtual,” the younger Estrada said.
This year’s celebration, according to Jinggoy, was very much different from the intimate one the family held last year.
Despite the situation that the former president is in now, he remains in high spirits and continues to be thankful to everyone who continuously pray for his recovery, said Jinggoy.
"Nagpapasalamat siya sa lahat ng nagdasal at nanalangin para sa kanyang paggaling. Nagpapasalamat siya sa inyong lahat, sa kanilang lahat actually," Jinggoy said.
Erap, a former actor who became president from 1998 until 2001, was admitted to the hospital late last month after testing positive for COVID-19.
He was admitted to the intensive care unit due to bacterial infection in the lungs, but has been transferred to a regular hospital room. He also tested negative for COVID-19 last week.
He was last in public service as Manila City mayor from 2013 until 2019.
Vaccine czar may mensahe sa mga bansang kumakamkam ng bakuna
Sa gitna ng pagsipa ng COVID-19 cases sa Pilipinas, nagbitaw ng mensahe si vaccine czar Carlito Galvez sa mga bansang umano'y nangho-hoard ng mga bakuna laban sa virus.
Sa United Nations Economic and Social Council special ministerial meeting, sinabi ni Galvez na walang buting naidudulot ang hoarding ng COVID-19 vaccines, at nakasasama pa ito sa pandaigdigang hakbang na puksain ang pandemya.
"Hoarding the limited vaccines does not serve anyone's interests and only hurts everyone and the global response. Similar transgressions run contrary to solidarities reached multilaterally that emphasized the importance of collective action," ani Galvez.
Nauna nang sinabi ng director general ng World Health Organization (WHO) na ang hindi patas na distribusyon ng bakuna sa mga bansa ang isa sa mga dahilan kaya muling tumataas ang mga kaso ng COVID-19.
Aniya, sa mayayamang bansa, isa sa kada 4 na tao ay bakunado na habang sa mahihirap na bansa ay nasa isa kada 500 pa lang ang nababakunahan.
Ayon kay Galvez, suportado ng Pilipinas ang polisiyang titiyak sa patas at napapanahong access sa mga bakuna.
"The Philippines remains resolute in championing a policy of ensuring universal, fair, equitable, and timely access to COVID-19 vaccines as long-term solutions to building back better, amid the emergence of new variants and the global scarcity that has been challenging vaccine rollouts in some countries," sabi niya.
Panawagan ni Galvez sa international community, paigtingin ang pagkakaisa, at palakasin ang suporta sa COVAX facility.
"The Philippines calls on the international community to reinforce our greater global solidarities and uphold our collective commitment and to further intensify its cooperation to address COVID-19's multidimensional challenges. Indeed, no one is safe unless everyone is safe," saad ng vaccine czar.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/19/21/vaccine-czar-mensahe-bansang-kumakamkam-bakuna
Judiciary finalizing A4 vaccination priority list
By Benjamin Pulta
The Supreme Court (SC) is urging judges and court personnel of first and second-level courts willing to be inoculated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) to start signing up this week.
"In line with the inclusion of frontline workers in Priority Group A4 of the National Covid-19 Vaccine Deployment Plan, all judges and court personnel of the first and second level courts who wish to be inoculated under Priority Groups A4 of the Judiciary should submit their names and other personal information no later than 22 April 2021 to the Office of the Court Administrator," read the circular (OCA-No.50-2021) dated April 18, 2021 signed by Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez.
Qualified judiciary workers under the A4.13 group may sign up online or "may choose the nearest city or municipality from their residence where they intend to register and be inoculated, considering that the inoculation is residence-based".
Information gathered as to the interested personnel will be shared by the Office of the Court Administrator with the National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 and the concerned local government units, Marquez added.
A request was sent to NTF Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. on March 31 by then acting Chief Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe, seeking to consider justices, judges and court personnel of the judiciary as frontline government workers whose functions are essential at all times, especially during the pandemic.
A4 is composed of non-medical public and private essential workers who face clients but cannot consistently meet minimum health standards like air circulation, physical distancing and limited exposure time.
In February, the SC initially announced it will be procuring Covid-19 vaccines, approved during an en banc session held on January 26, for about 30,000 justices, judges, officials, and personnel of the judiciary.
The decision was upon the recommendation of the Office of Administrative Services, Fiscal Management and Budget Office, and the Office of the Court Administrator with an estimated cost of PHP19 million chargeable against the regular appropriations or savings of the SC, Presidential Electoral Tribunal, Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Court of Tax Appeals, and the lower courts.
'It's for animals': Doctors refuse to give Erap ivermectin, says Jinggoy
The doctors of former President Joseph "Erap" Estrada have refused to give him ivermectin as the drug is only for animals, the octogenarian politician's eldest son said Monday.
There was a discussion among siblings if they should administer ivermectin, former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada told ANC's Headstart.
"The doctors said, 'I will not give ivermectin to your dad because that is only for animals,'" he said.
"I really have to follow the doctors' advice," he said.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) earlier granted compassionate use permits to several hospitals who would want to administer ivermectin on COVID-19 patients after several politicians advocated for its use in battling coronavirus.
Among the politicians who received ivermectin was former Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, who is 97 years old.
Estrada was also not given Linghua Qingwen, an in demand Chinese drug that could allegedly address symptoms of COVID-19, Jinggoy said.
"I consulted the doctors of my dad and they talked among themselves and they agreed to administer Leronlimab to my father," he said.
Leronlimab is an "an investigational product which is still undergoing clinical trials for the treatment of Cancer, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)... and COVID-19," according to the FDA.
This means that the product can only be used by certain hospitals and doctors who would request for it.
The younger Estrada said their father was also given Remdesivir, a broad-spectrum antiviral medication.
"Maraming gamot na binibigay sa aking ama so I cannot credit kung ano nagpagaling sa kaniya," he said.
(There were a lot of medicine given to my father so I cannot credit which one helped him survive.)
Erap was admitted to the hospital earlier this month after testing positive for COVID-19.
The former President was readmitted to the intensive care unit due to bacterial infection in his lungs, but is set to be transferred to a regular room on Monday, Jinggoy said.
"His blood pressure has already stabilized. His kidney function has already improved. His white blood cells, which rose to an alarming level of 35,000 has already decreased," he said.
His doctors said that among intubated patients, only 54 percent survive, but in the hospital where he is confined, 75 percent of patients who have been intubated survive, Estrada's eldest son said.
"Noong na-intubate ang daddy ko, we were already on the verge of tears... I hope na isa sa 75 percent ang daddy ko," he said.
(When my dad was intubated, we were already on the verge of tears... I hope my dad is among the 75 percent who survive after being intubated.)
"You know naman my dad is a fighter," he said.
The former President is also celebrating his 84th birthday on Monday.
Saleslady patay sa pananaksak ng holdaper sa Malabon
Patay ang isang saleslady matapos pagsasaksakin ng umano'y holdaper noong Linggo sa Barangay Baritan, Malabon.
Kinilala ng Malabon police ang biktima na si Maribeth Goco, 47 anyos.
Ayon sa barangay tanod na si Cefriano Cerio, pumasok ng boutique ang suspek saka tinutukan ng kutsilyo si Goco.
Pilit umanong kinuha ng suspek ang pera at mga gamit sa boutique.
Tumanggi umano ang biktimang ibigay ang kaniyang mga gamit kaya siya pinagsasaksak ng suspek.
Naaresto naman ang suspek at narekober ang ginamit na kutsilyo pati ang P200 ninakaw na pera.
Mahaharap ang suspek sa kasong robbery with homicide.
— Ulat ni Lyza Aquino, ABS-CBN News
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/19/21/saleslady-patay-sa-pananaksak-ng-holdaper-sa-malabon
Ex-teacher wanted for rape falls in QC
By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
Police nabbed a former teacher wanted for rape in Quezon City on Sunday.
Brig.Gen. Jonnel Estomo, director of the Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group (PNP AKG) chief, identified the arrested suspect as Ramil Gara, who was nabbed in T.S. Cruz Subdivision, Barangay Baesa.
The suspect has an outstanding arrest warrant issued by the Caloocan City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 121.
Gara, a former senior high school teacher of the Notre Dame of Greater Manila in Caloocan City, is accused of raping of one his students identified as "Lulu" on several occasions in 2017.
He allegedly threatened to give the victim a failing mark if she won't give in to his sexual desires.
After the incidents, Gara fled and hid for four years before he was arrested.
Sobejana not part of group planning unauthorized WPS moves
By Priam Nepomuceno
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Cirilito Sobejana denied claims on social media that he is part of a Viber group consisting of 300 ranking military officials planning unauthorized movements to address issues in the West Philippine Sea.
"The AFP trusts the government’s management of the situation in the disputed area and its diplomatic thrust in protecting the sovereignty and sovereign rights of our country," he added in a statement forwarded to reporters Sunday night.
Sobejana also branded as "fake information" claims that there is a group of retired and active military officials planning to withdraw support for President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
"Nevertheless, the military leadership takes cognizance of the presence of individuals and groups that are determined and are engaged in orchestrated efforts to undermine the government," he added.
The AFP chief said groups discredit the military's efforts through fake news intended to agitate and confuse the people to turn against the government or support those who are rebelling against it.
"We, therefore, advise the public to remain calm and dismiss this as propaganda," Sobejana added.
He said the AFP is loyal to the Constitution and the duly constituted authorities, and that all military personnel are firmly behind the chain of command.
'Bising' continues to dampen Bicol Region, parts of Visayas
By Ma. Cristina Arayata
Typhoon "Bising" (international name Surigae) will continue to dampen Bicol Region and parts of the Visayas on Monday, the weather bureau said.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said moderate to heavy, with at times intense rains will be experienced over Bicol Region, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, and Leyte.
"Bising" maintained its strength, packing a maximum sustained winds of 195 kilometers per hour near the center, and gustiness of up to 240 kph.It was last seen 250 km. east northeast of Virac, Catanduanes, moving north northwestward at 10 kph.
Tropical cyclone wind signal (TCWS) No. 2 has been hoisted over Catanduanes, the eastern portion of Camarines Sur (Garchitorena, Presentacion, Caramoan, Sagnay, San Jose, Lagonoy), the eastern portion of Albay (Tiwi, Malinao, Tabaco City, Malilipot, Santo Domingo, Bacacay, Rapu-Rapu, Legazpi City, Manito), and the eastern and central portions of Sorsogon (Castilla, Sorsogon City, Prieto Diaz, Gubat, Barcelona, Casiguran, Juban, Magallanes, Bulan, Bulusan, Irosin, Santa Magdalena, Matnog), Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, and Biliran.
TCWS No. 1 was hoisted over the eastern portion of Isabela (Divilacan, Palanan, Dinapigue), the northern portion of Aurora (Casiguran, Dilasag), the southeastern portion of Quezon (Guinayangan, Calauag, Tagkawayan) including Polillo Islands, Camarines Norte, the rest of Camarines Sur, the rest of Albay, the rest of Sorsogon, and Masbate including Burias and Ticao Islands, Leyte, Southern Leyte, and the northern portion of Cebu (Tabogon, Borbon, San Remigio, Bogo City, Medellin, Daanbantayan) including Bantayan and Camotes Islands, Dinagat Islands, Siargao Islands, and Bucas Grande Islands.
It added that tropical cyclone winds of at least strong breeze to near gale in strength extend outward up to 440 km. from the center of "Bising". Destructive typhoon-force winds extend outward up to 110 km. from the center of the typhoon.
In the next 24 hours, the northeasterly wind flow enhanced by "Bising" will also bring strong breeze to near gale conditions with higher gusts over most of northern Luzon, Aurora, and the rest of Quezon that are not under any TCWS.
Very rough to very high seas will be experienced over the eastern seaboard of Luzon, and rough to very high seas over the northern and eastern seaboards of Eastern Visayas. Sea travel is risky for all types of seacraft.
Rough to very rough seas over the northern and western seaboards of northern Luzon, and the eastern seaboard of Caraga, and rough seas over the remaining seaboards of localities where TCWS are in effect, and the eastern seaboard of Davao Oriental. Sea travel is risky for small seacraft, and mariners without the proper experience should immediately seek safe harbor, according to PAGASA.
Moderate to rough seas over the western seaboard of central Luzon. Mariners of small seacraft are advised not to venture out over these waters. Inexperienced mariners of these vessels should avoid navigating in these conditions, PAGASA said.
More beds needed, not enough nurses: Hospitals warned to raise capacity amid COVID surge
A group of private hospitals said Monday its members have received written warnings from the health department to increase their COVID-19 capacity to 30 percent.
Private hospitals currently allot 20 percent of its total bed allocation for virus patients, said Dr. Jose Rene Degrano, president of the Private Hospitals Association Philippines.
Degrano said one nurse can previously handle 5 to 8 virus patients with mild symptoms, but one one to three patients with moderate to severe symptoms.
"Sinabi po namin depende po 'yun, we will try as much as possible. Pero ano pong gagawin namin kung wala kaming makuhang additional nurses na pwedeng pumuno sa additional beds," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.
(We said it would depend, we will try as much as possible. But what can we do if we can't get additional nurses to attend to additional beds.)
"Karamihan ng hospitals sinasabi nila may written warning na kailangan nila sumunod sa Bayanihan 2 directive na ito. Ang sagot ng mga ospital ano ang magagawa namin kung walang maibigay na additional number of nurses. Ginagawan po ng paraan ng private hospitals kung kaya nila."
(Majority of hospitals said they have received a written warning that they need to follow this Bayanihan 2 directive. They said what can they do if there's no additional number of nurses. Private hospitals are doing the best they can.)
The group earlier appealed to government to augment private hospitals' workforce as COVID-19 cases continued to surge in the Greater Manila area.
The Philippines on Sunday logged 10,098 more COVID-19 cases, raising its cumulative total to 936,133. Of this figure, 141,089 were active infections.
The country is forecast to reach 1 million COVID-19 cases by the end of the month, according to independent research group OCTA.
Philippines eyes COVID-19 vaccination of frontline workers in mid-May, June
The Philippines' COVID-19 vaccination of frontline workers might begin mid-May or June, an official said Monday.
The Inter-Agency Task Force Against COVID-19 last week approved those included in the A4 priority group, said Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles.
Government continues to inoculate A1 to A3 groups or health workers, senior citizens and persons with comorbidities, he added.
"Around end of May to maybe June kasi that’s the time na marami rin tayong makukuhang bakuna," Nograles told ANC's Headstart. "Probably mid-May to June pwede na po (ang A4)."
(Around end of May to maybe June because that’s the time we will receive more vaccines...Probably mid-May to June we can begin inoculating the A4 group.)
The A4 group includes:
Commuter transport (land, air, and sea), including logistics
Public and private, wet and dry market vendors
Frontline workers in groceries, supermarkets, delivery services
Workers in manufacturing for food, beverage, medical and pharmaceutical products
Frontline workers in food retail, including food service delivery
Frontline workers in private and government financial services
Frontline workers in hotels and accommodation establishments
Priests, rabbis, imams, and other religious leaders
Security guards/personnel assigned in offices, agencies, and organizations identified in the list of priority industries/sectors
Frontline workers in private and government news media
Customer-facing personnel of telecoms, cable and internet service providers, electricity distribution and water distribution utilities
Frontline personnel in basic education and higher education institutions and agencies
Overseas Filipino workers, including those scheduled for deployment within 2 months
Frontline workers in law/justice, security, and social protection sectors
Frontline government workers engaged in the operations of government transport system, quarantine inspection; worker safety inspection and other COVID-19 response activities
Frontline government workers in charge of tax collection, assessment of businesses for incentives, election, national ID, data collection personnel
Diplomatic community and Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) personnel in consular operations
Department of Public Works and Highways personnel in charge of monitoring government infrastructure projects
The Philippines, which began its COVID-19 immunization campaign last month, has administered 1.25 million doses of vaccines as of April 13.
Petition calling for Duterte's resignation gets thousands of signatures
An online petition calling for President Rodrigo Duterte's resignation over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and alleged subservience to China has gathered over 50,000 signatures Monday, days after it was launched by various groups in the country.
"This statement will attest that people are no longer satisfied. If he doesn’t step down, then at least, the positive effect of this is it has made more people aware, made more people to be able to stand up and speak up," Dr. Edelina De La Paz, chairperson of Health Alliance for Democracy, told ANC.
The Change.org petition titled "Save the Nation! Duterte Resign!" was initially signed by some 500 medical workers, lawyers, businessmen, members of the academe, media workers and civic leaders.
For De La Paz, the petition is not a political statement but an authentic call for the President to step down.
"Yes because the situation is already too much. You have the pandemic, which is worsening. One year na tayong naka-lockdown, wala namang nangyayari (We've been locked down for 1 year and nothing's happening)," she said.
"Tapos ang sitwasyon sa West Philippine Sea is so volatile that really a policy has to be imposed. Those islands are ours. Ang nakakabahala pa, payag siyang ipalit ang soberanya natin para lang sa bakuna (What's disturbing is he's willing to trade our sovereignty in exchange of vaccines)," she added.
Since the pandemic began, the Philippines has recorded over 936,000 COVID-19 infections, of which more than 15,000 people died. The country currently has over 141,000 active cases or patients deemed infectious.
For the past weeks, Philippine officials have also filed diplomatic protests against China's latest incursion in the West Philippine Sea, with dozens of Chinese militia vessels spotted in the Julian Felipe Reef.
In his regular "Talk to the People" public address, Duterte said Thursday his administration didn't lack in responding to the crisis.
"I'd like to just disabuse the mind of nagkulang tayo. Wala na kayong tiningnan kundi ‘yung kagaguhan n’yo. Hindi tayo nagkulang," he said in a pre-recorded speech.
(I'd just like to disabuse the mind of the notion that we fell short. You see nothing but your own foolishness. We did not come up short.)
Duterte said his aides were all "bright," following the calls of some for the COVID-19 task force's abolition.
"Baka sabihin n'yo wala naman talagang solusyon ito. Meron po: itong kaharap n’yo, ‘wag na ako, palaos na ako," he said.
"Harap ka sa panel ‘yan… Puro bright ‘yan, puro valedictorian. Alam nila kung anong gawin nila. ‘Wag kayong mag-alala, we chose the right people to run the government."
(You might say that this has no solution. It has: this panel before me, don't include me. I'm almost done. Face that panel. They're all bright, all valedictorians. They know what to do. Do not worry.)
Thousands flee in Catanduanes as Typhoon Bising nears
Thousands of families in Catanduanes fled their homes as Typhoon Bising brought heavy rains early Monday, its governor said.
Some 7,275 families or 28,574 individuals were mandated to evacuate Sunday and told to observe physical distancing, said Governor Joseph Cua. The province has 14 active COVID-19 cases, he added.
"Hindi pa naman tayo nakaka-recover noong nakaraang bagyo. 'Yung mga bahay nila hindi pa naaayos nang ganun katibay kaya mas marami tayong evacuees ngayon kumpara noong nakaraang taon," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.
(We have yet to recover from the last storm. Residents' homes are not yet that durable so we have more evacuees than last year.)
Catanduanes was placed under tropical cyclone wind signal no. 2, which may cause wooden, old electric posts to be tilted or downed and might bring light to moderate damage to exposed communities, according to PAGASA.
The country's second storm this year is not forecast to hit land but will bring moderate to heavy with at times intense rains over Bicol region, Northern Samar, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, the state weather bureau said.
It is expected to leave the Philippine area of responsibility on Saturday, PAGASA weather forecaster Ariel Rojas added.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/19/21/thousands-flee-in-catanduanes-as-typhoon-bising-nears
13 patay nang mahulog ang SUV sa kanal sa Kalinga
Patay ang 13 katao, kabilang ang 3 bata, nang mahulog sa irrigation canal ang kanilang sinasakyang SUV sa Tabuk City, Kalinga nitong Sabado ng gabi.
Papunta umano ang sasakyan sa Bulo Lake, ayon sa pulisya.
Sumaklolo ang taumbayan sa 15 pasahero ng SUV ngunit 2 lamang ang nailigtas.
Iniimbestigahan pa ng pulisya kung paano nahulog ang SUV at kung bakit 15 ang sakay nito.
--Ulat ni Anjo Bagaoisan, ABS-CBN News
https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/04/19/21/13-patay-nang-mahulog-ang-suv-sa-kanal-sa-kalinga