Jamaine Punzalan, ABS-CBN News
(UPDATE) — President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday signed a law renewing the franchise of DITO Telecommunity for another 25 years, a document from Malacañang showed.
“This franchise is shall be extended and in effect for a period of twenty-five (25) years from its expiration date on April 24, 2023, unless sooner revoked or cancelled,” Duterte said of DITO's license to operate in Republic Act 11537.
“This franchise shall be deemed ipso facto revoked in the event the grantee fails to operate continuously for 2 years.”
DITO’s service should be “satisfactory at all times” and extend in “areas not yet served, and in hazard- and typhoon-prone areas,” Duterte ordered.
The law gave Duterte the right to suspend or take over and operate DITO’s facilities and equipment, among others, “in times of war, rebellion, public peril, calamity, emergency, disaster or disturbance of peace and order.”
“The radio spectrum is a finite resource that is part of national patrimony and the use thereof is a privilege conferred upon the grantee by the State and may be withdrawn any time after due process,” read RA 11537.
In line with the constitutional provision encouraging public participation in public utilities, DITO shall offer to Filipinos at least 30 percent of its outstanding capital stocks within 5 years from the effectivity of the law, said Duterte.
He said 60 percent of DITO’s workers should be regular employees.
DITO is a consortium made up of companies owned by Davao-based billionaire Dennis Uy and China Telecoms.
The country's third telco player launched commercial services in the National Capital Region on Monday, after starting operations in key areas in Visayas and Mindanao in March.
Lawmakers and security experts had earlier expressed concern over state-owned China Telecoms' participation in DITO, saying it posed a risk to national security as the new telco would build facilities inside military camps.
Malacañang, however, downplayed these concerns.
DITO's initial commitment was to provide "near-Singapore" internet speeds of at least 27 Mbps on its first year.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/18/21/duterte-dito-franchise-renewal
Patay ang isang babae matapos pagbabarilin habang natutulog sa Brgy. Pispis, bayan ng Maasin sa Iloilo, madaling araw ng Mayo 17.
Nakilala ang biktima na si Girlie Enriquez, 44 anyos at residente ng lugar.
Sa imbestigasyon ng Maasin PNP, nagulat na lamang ang kinakasama ng biktima na natutulog sa kabilang kubo nang marinig ang mga putok ng baril.
Makalipas ang pagputok ng mga baril ay narinig na lamang ang biktima na humihingi na ng tulong.
Kaagad na dinala sa ospital ang biktima pero idineklara siyang dead on arrival matapos magtamo ng tama ng bala sa ibat-ibang bahagi ng katawan.
Nakuha sa pinangyarihan ang walong basyo ng bala na pinaniniwalaang nanggaling sa 9 mm kalibreng pistol.
Iniimbestigahan ang insidente at ang motibo sa pamamaril. Tinutukoy din ang salarin na kaagad tumakas matapos ang insidente.
-- Ulat ni Rolen Escaniel
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/18/21/babae-patay-matapos-pagbabarilin-habang-tulog-sa-iloilo
RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News
Congress has approved the creation of a third congressional district for Bataan province, with less than a year to go before the 2022 elections.
During the plenary session Monday, the House of Representatives concurred with the Senate’s amendments to House Bill 8664, which seeks to reapportion Bataan into three legislative districts from the current two.
The new congressional districts in Bataan are the following:
1st District - Hermosa, Orani, Samal and Abucay
2nd District - City of Balanga, Orion, Pilar and Limay
3rd District - Bagac, Mariveles, Morong and Dinalupihan
The incumbent congressional representatives shall stay in office until those for the new districts are elected.
“The additional district ensures a more effective delivery of unparalleled public services, and the Bataan electorate can look forward to a more responsive governance from their elected representatives," said Senate Committee on Local Government chairman Sen. Francis Tolentino.
Besides this, House Bill 6867 increasing the number of congressmen in Bulacan from 4 to 6 was transmitted to the Office of the President last April 23 for signature.
On the same day, House Bill 7700 dividing the first district of Caloocan City, giving it a third district was also transmitted for the President's signature.
The 1987 Constitution states that party-list representatives shall constitute twenty per centum of the total number of representatives including those under the party list. This means that any increase in the number of district representatives leads to a rise in the number of party-list representatives.
The incumbent Congress has 300 members in the House of Representatives.
The Senate also passed on the same day House Bill No. 5306 which seeks to separate Sitio Ladol from Barangay Poblacion in Alabel, Sarangani to be a new village.
House Bill 5944 was also passed by the higher chamber, seeking to declare April 28 as a special working holiday in Aurora province in honor of Doña Aurora Aragon-Quezon, the first First Lady of the Philippines.
- with report from Robert Mano, ABS-CBN News
By Filane Mikee Cervantes
A House of Representatives’ panel on Monday approved a measure exempting election servers such as members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) from having their honoraria subjected to income and other withholding taxes.
During a virtual hearing, the House Ways and Means Committee approved an unnumbered substitute bill that would provide income taxation exemption to compensation of BEIs and other election personnel, typically public school teachers for serving in the national and local elections.
The bill seeks to amend the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997 to exclude election-related honoraria and allowances from the computation of gross income.
Nueva Vizcaya Rep. Luisa Lloren Cuaresma, author of the bill, said the bill aims to allow teachers to fully enjoy the amount of compensation being paid to them and recognize their notable service even in hazardous environments during election seasons.
Cuaresma noted that the compensation teachers receive is usually being subjected to income tax.
"As a result, the hard-earned compensation being earned by teachers, which to some extent, becomes the price for their safety and lives, is being reduced to a meager amount that is barely sufficient to augment their other source of income," she said.
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, committee chair, said the measure should be fast-tracked in time for the 2022 elections.
“Considering both the risks election workers take, the relatively small size of their compensation for such an important function, and the reasonableness of the tax foregone, this proposal does not pose serious threats to our revenue strength,” Salceda said.
According to data from the Commission on Elections (Comelec), taxes withheld for the 2019 National and Local Elections amounted to PHP56.8 million.
“The cost is very reasonable, at around PHP56.8 million. It’s worth apprehending just one big-time tax evader. It’s an easy choice,” Salceda said.
By Benjamin Pulta
Senator Ronald dela Rosa pushed anew for the Department of Overseas Filipinos to better assist in improving the lot of 10.2 million overseas Filipinos in more than 200 countries and territories.
Senator Ronald Dela Rosa, who filed Senate Bill 2110, or the Department of Overseas Filipinos Act, said in a statement on Monday that the new department could better look after the interest of Filipinos overseas without causing a "swell" to the bureaucracy since it will be an integration of functions of existing concerned government agencies.
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go filed a similar bill (SB 1949) last year and was certified urgent by the Palace.
Of the 10.2 million Filipinos abroad, 4.8 million are permanent migrants, 4.2 million temporary migrants, and 1.2 million are irregular migrants
There are also 2.2 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), based on the 2019 Survey on Overseas Filipinos by the Philippine Statistics Authority.
"With the huge number of our kababayan (fellow citizens) living and working abroad, it is important that policies and programs for the promotion of their welfare and protection must be unequivocally instituted," Dela Rosa stated.
"With a single but focused department wherein the mandates of key agencies are synchronized, our overseas Filipinos are assured of easily accessible and more available, and, at the same time, swift assistance and services. Hence, the early passage of this bill is earnestly sought," he said.
Under SB 2110 filed on March 24, 2021, the Department of Overseas Filipinos will subsume all the powers and functions of the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers' Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Commission on Overseas Filipinos, all Philippine Overseas Labor Offices and the International Labor Affairs Bureau under the Department of Labor and Employment, the Social Welfare Attaches Office under the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration will be attached to the proposed department for purposes of policy and coordination.
In the House of Representatives, House Bill 5832 also known as the Department of Filipinos Overseas passed the final reading with 173 votes in March last year.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday said the distribution of aid has reached 91 percent or PHP21.06 billion given to low-income earners in the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus area as of May 15, the deadline set by the national government.
In a news release, the agency said 37 local government units (LGUs) reached 100 percent completion of aid distribution.
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said that amid all the challenges, the LGUs delivered their end of the bargain on the distribution of 'ayuda' to millions of beneficiaries, with most registering a 90 percent completion rate as of May 15.
He said the 91 percent distribution rate is a testament to the LGUs' commitment to extend the most help they can give to their constituents.
“Alam ninyo po isang malaking hamon po talaga itong pamamahagi ng ayuda sa panahon ng pandemya at nakakatuwa na we saw the commitment of the LGUs (As you know, the distribution of the assistance at this time of a pandemic was a big challenge. We are elated with the commitment we saw from the LGUs). And now billions of pesos of financial assistance have reached our kababayans. The 91 percent or PHP21.06 billion 'ayuda' distributed to qualified beneficiaries is a victory for the LGUs and the national government,” Año said.
He explained that the remaining 9 percent represents the unclaimed 'ayuda' and they have granted the LGUs with unclaimed funds the authority to prepare a new payroll and distribute these to other affected individuals in their respective communities within 10 days.
“Despite diligent efforts by the LGUs, some of the beneficiaries did not claim their ‘ayuda’ because they have moved to the provinces or are no longer residing in their LGUs. Many of them were also delisted because they were found to be duplicates in the Social Amelioration Program list. The LGUs have started to prepare a new payroll in order to distribute these unclaimed funds,” he said.
On May 15, Año said Bulacan tallied the highest completion rate of 96.85 percent corresponding to PHP2.87 billion worth of financial assistance with 12 LGUs namely Balagtas, Baliwag, Bocaue, Calumpit, Doña Remedios Trinidad, Guiguinto, Norzagaray, Pandi, Paombong, Plaridel, San Miguel and, San Rafael finishing their 'ayuda' distribution.
Laguna tallied 19 LGUs which have completed aid distribution, the most among the whole NCR Plus bubble while garnering a high completion rate of 96.50 percent corresponding to PHP2.62 billion worth of financial aid distributed.
Among the LGUs which have completed distribution of ‘ayuda’ in Laguna are the cities of Biñan, Cabuyao, San Pedro, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, and the towns of Alaminos, Calauan, Famy, Kalayaan, Lumban, Mabitac, Magdalena, Nagcarlan, Paete, Pagsanjan, Pakil, Pila, Rizal and Siniloan.
Meanwhile, Rizal followed with 93.34 percent, NCR with 90.99 percent; and Cavite with 86.04 percent, with five LGUs including Tagaytay City, Amadeo, Mendez, Naic, and Noveleta completing the aid distribution.
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan E. Malaya said Metro Manila LGUs have tallied 90.99 percent completion rate amounting to PHP10.17 billion worth of 'ayuda' distributed to qualified families within the region.
“We commend the Metro Manila LGUs for stepping up and committing their resources for the effective distribution of 'ayuda',” he said.
Expressing deep concern about the prospect of vaccines expiring in June, Senator Richard Gordon, speaking as chairman and CEO of the Philippine Red Cross, aired his appeal to the government to take immediate measures to fast-track Covid-19 vaccination.
Noting that about 1.5 million AstraZeneca doses are expiring in June, Gordon said the government must simplify the procedure of vaccination to encourage more people to get vaccinated.
While he understands the DOH’s protocol of subjecting vaccinees to prescreening to preclude any possible side effects, he said such protocols may be relaxed and encouraged the government to just provide post-vaccination care.
Gordon mentioned that this system has been widely used in the United States that enabled them to vaccinate millions of Americans in record time. Those getting vaccines do not spend long waiting hours and are just given a hotline or a number which they can call should they experience some serious side effects.
He said the Philippine Red Cross has chapters all over the country that can mobilize volunteers to vaccinate as many people as they can and all they need are the vaccine supplies.
“To avoid letting the vaccines expire, the government can immediately deliver the vaccines to the PRC and allow its volunteer doctors and nurses to administer the vaccines quickly and safely. As we struggle to meet our vaccination targets amidst the scarcity of supply, it would be criminal negligence to let so many doses go to waste,” the senator said.
“The Philippine Red Cross as an auxiliary to the government on humanitarian services is also a partner of the government under the Bayanihan Act and should be tapped by the government to help speed up Covid-19 vaccination,” he added.
By Christopher Lloyd Caliwan
The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) will craft operational guidelines and protocols which will be observed by the two agencies to avoid misencounters during the conduct of anti-illegal drug operations.
In a statement Monday, PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said this decision was reached during a meeting with PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva over the weekend.
This came after operatives of the Quezon City Police District Station 4 and PDEA agents nearly figured in another incident of apparent miscommunication during a buy-bust operation on May 14.
However, timely communication and courtesy between the two agencies averted a repeat of a shootout between PNP and PDEA agents along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City last February.
"These include more rigid coordination procedures that must clearly indicate the specific areas of operation at the station level in big cities," Eleazar said.
Eleazar earlier noted that “illegal drug syndicates are taking advantage of the weaknesses or gaps in the rules of procedure on coordination and inter-operations" between the PNP and PDEA.
Eleazar said these lapses will be corrected to avoid further miscommunication among the two agencies. (with Priam Nepomuceno)
By Ma. Cristina Arayata
The whole country will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms, the weather bureau said on Monday.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said this weather condition is caused by the easterlies.
Flashfloods or landslides are possible during severe thunderstorms, it added.
Light to moderate winds and slight to moderate seas will prevail over the entire archipelago, PAGASA said.
Aabot sa P14 milyong halaga ng hinihinalang shabu ang nakuha ng mga awtoridad sa isang operasyon kontra droga sa Nueva Ecija Biyernes ng hapon.
Nauwi sa shootout ang isinagawang anti-illegal drug operation ng pulisya sa Barangay Sto Cristo Sur, Gapan City, Nueva Ecija.
Patay ang 2 drug suspect na kinilalang sina Dennis Kue at Percival Pestaño Miranda habang nakatakas ang isa pa nilang kasama na kinilala lang sa alyas na Joel.
Nakuha sa crime scene ang 3 sachet ng hinihinalang shabu na mahigit 2 kilo ang timbang at aabot sa P14 million ang street value.
Ayon sa pulisya, kilala ang mga suspek na illegal drugs distributors at kasabwat ni alyas Bating at alyas Joel na bodegero or warehousemen umano ni alyas Intsik, isang Chinese national.
Konektado rin umano ang grupo kay Arthur Abdul na napatay sa Pasig City noong May 09, 2021. Si alyas Intsik umano ang supplier nila ng droga na ibinabagsak sa National Capital Region, Region 3, Region 4, at iba pang probinsya.
Ayon pa sa impormasyon ng pulisya, si alyas Baldo ay isang AWOL na sundalo ng Philippine Army.
- ulat ni Gracie Rutao
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/15/21/p14-m-halaga-ng-shabu-nasamsam-sa-nueva-ecija
Arestado ang isang lalaki matapos mahuli sa akto umanong pagbebenta ng marijuana sa Cabatuan, Isabela noong Huwebes ng hapon.
Ang suspek ay 20-anyos na taga-San Mateo, Isabela at isa umano sa mga "high-value target drug personality".
Ayon sa Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region 2, apat na balot ng marijuana leaves with fruiting tops ang ibinenta umano ng suspek sa PDEA agent na nagpanggap bilang poseur buyer.
Aabot sa humigit-kumulang 5 kilo ang timbang ng nakumpiskang marijuana at tinatayang nagkakahalaga ito ng P600, 000.
Narekober pa sa suspek ang isang sachet na naglalaman ng marijuana, isang kalibre .38 na baril, 4 na bala, mobile phone at ang motorsiklo na ginamit nito sa pakikipagtransakyon.
Sinampahan na ang suspek ng reklamong paglabag sa Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
- ulat ni Harris Julio
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/15/21/p600000-halaga-ng-marijuana-nakumpiska-sa-isabela
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11:55PM Big Big Shopping Nite 2021 (Sr.11)
12:10AM NEWS ROUNDUP (PEARL)
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01:00AM Racing To Win
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02:15AM Market Overview
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‘I find it depressing to see the glass as half-empty – but too dangerous to see it half-full. And when my very own life itself is at stake, I would rather be conservative and take the former stance. To the spinmeisters I offer my prayers – and a jab of my middle finger!’
IT was some 30 days ago, on April 12 to be exact, when I was discharged from St. Luke’s Medical Center-BGC after a 13-day confinement due to COVID-19.
I have been confined before, but for “elective” reasons: either for the annual executive check-ups that I also have done at St. Luke’s (they have an excellent Wellness Center on the 7th floor), or once at Asian Hospital for my cholecystectomy – the surgical removal of one’s gallbladder – which happened in 2017.
I’ve never had to be confined because my life was at risk, at least not until March 31. And it’s hard to believe that it’s been a month since I got out in one piece, lucky that my body responded to the protocols our health care experts resort to when confronted with the virus. To think that barely a year ago the virus was so new, so novel, that medical experts were left scrambling to find ways to manage it.
The 13 days I spent in confinement are what has made this pandemic personal to me. It almost cost me my life – and it still could, for as long as it remains untamed. That’s why I cannot for the life of me be someone who sees the glass half-full when so many could very well die because it is actually half-empty.
We have received, we are told, over seven million doses of COVID-19 vaccines that our government can now deploy to fight the pandemic. The strategy, we are told further, is to achieve herd immunity by Christmas with as many as one million Filipinos being jabbed every week beginning April. And the primary ammunition we are using in this battle is China-made Sinovac, whose supply is made secure, thanks to the kind and generous heart of the Chinese government – to whom much we owe.
Analyzed further, the seven million doses we have received as of this writing is good for 3.5 million Filipinos at best, with each receiving two doses of the vaccine to achieve full protection. But fully protecting 3.5 million is a far cry from what is needed to achieve what experts call “herd immunity threshold,” a point where the epidemic is neither growing nor declining exponentially. HIT is achieved when a significant portion of the population has become immune to the disease either due to vaccination or because they have been previously infected and now have naturally produced antibodies. For COVID-19 this HIT has been set by experts as between 65-75% of a population.
For the Philippines with a population of about 110 million, HIT is achieved when some 70+ million have become immune. If this will be via vaccination it means we will need 140 million doses to be given at the earliest possible opportunity.
There are barely six and-a-half months – or 26 weeks – between now and Christmas. Data shows that the number of fully vaccinated Filipinos has not even breached the 500,000 mark. Which means that over the next 26 weeks we need to be able to vaccinate some 69,500,000 Filipinos – or average some 2.6 million per week – if we are to achieve that goal. At the rate we are going, this is a pipe dream that only the government’s spinmeisters can trumpet as achievable – while collecting hefty professional fees in the process.
And I think the government knows this – which is why of late the tune has changed: we will now target achieving herd immunity in urban areas by Christmas! And this involves vaccinating the 50 million Filipinos who live in our cities. But not only does this idea dangerously play around with the original concept of a total population becoming “herd immune;” even at 50 million we need to vaccinate 1.9 million Filipinos weekly beginning immediately – still a pipe dream.
But we need to appreciate the government for its efforts, even if it means injecting into the population a vaccine the President himself refused to take. Before all these jabbing began, the President, with his usual braggadocio, stated that he would be the first to get a virus shot as part of the effort to vaccinate the people. This tune changed with an admission that his doctors had adviced him to take another brand than Sinovac, a Chinese vaccine very generously made available by the government of China.
It turns out that this “other brand” was Sinopharm, the first Chinese vaccine to earn an emergency use authorization (EUA) from the World Health Organization – and the same vaccine allegedly jabbed into the PSG and a number of favored personalities as early as October last year – in violation of national drug policies that are the lookout of an agency like the FDA. In contrast, Sinovac still has to earn a WHO EUA, although it was granted one by our FDA.
Thirty days after my discharge, I still have to fully recover from my bout with COVID-19; I still take anti-coagulants, will need to undergo a CT scan to monitor my pulmonary embolism and continue to engage in physical exercises meant to bring my stage of health as close to what it was pre-COVID as much as possible. At this stage I remain susceptible to the virus – no different from more than 110 million Filipinos who have tended to rely on their own actions to save themselves rather than on government and its anti-COVID measures. From where I sit it looks like it will remain this way for the next 26 weeks – heck, perhaps even for the next 78 – because our government has not delivered beyond half truths issued behind data that are “suited to taste.”
I find it depressing to see the glass as half-empty – but too dangerous to see it half-full. And when my very own life itself is at stake, I would rather be conservative and take the former stance. To the spinmeisters I offer my prayers – and a jab of my middle finger!
Personal:
Kagawad Marvin Aguirre of Barangay Ugong, Pasig City, Kagawad Roland Umipig of Barangay Santa Rosa, Pasig City; Fortunato Agbayani; Lloyd Luna; belated happy birthday Odraude Perez; mama Paulina Templa Baniqued; Mary Andrea Dayao Librando
MICHELLE ABAD
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration would still be attached agencies, but remain independent of the proposed Department of Overseas Filipinos
The reason for consolidating government offices related to overseas Filipinos’ concerns under the proposed Department of Overseas Filipinos (DOFIL) remains unclear, senators said on Monday, May 10.
This, despite the hearings being on their last leg before possible approval of the proposed measure at the committee level.
Proponents like Senate labor committee chair Joel Villanueva and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the new department will be a “one stop shop” for overseas Filipinos’ concerns – whether they are workers (OFWs) or citizens of the other countries.
While the one-stop-shop model got the support of both the labor and foreign affairs departments, senators pointed out the administrative and budgetary implications of creating such a new department.
Admin, budget concerns
Among others, some of the DOFIL’s absorbed offices would include the office of migrant workers affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Commission on Overseas Filipinos under the Office of the President, and the international social services office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Meanwhile, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) under the labor department and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) would still remain as attached agencies, making them independent of the proposed DOFIL.
"What's the point of this DOFIL, you made it take offices and mess up the systems of the DFA, DSWD, and [Department of Labor and Employment], and at the end of the day, the two most relevant agencies are not part whether by personnel or in budget," Senator Imee Marcos said in Filipino.
Under Executive Order 292, the "attachment" of an agency is for policy and program coordination. “In other words, the [DOFIL] secretary cannot direct the two agencies because the two would be independent,” said Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.
In terms of fund concerns, Senator Nancy Binay grilled Nograles on the assistance to nationals (ATN) fund, currently under the DFA. If the department is created, the ATN would be partially transferred to the DOFIL, causing Philippine ambassadors to lose immediate access to the fund.
Nograles cited Section 14 of the bill which provides for a “consular assistance fund” for certain countries that do not have a Philippine labor attaché or DOFIL office yet. Once a country has DOFIL presence, there will be no more consular assistance fund, and the money would all be with the ATN.
“Since the ‘gold’ is with the DOFIL attaché, he can overrule the Department of Foreign Affairs secretary, because he holds the funds. So instead of coordination, it will result in confusion,” said Drilon.
In March 2020, the House of Representatives passed the bill that would establish the DOFIL. While 173 legislators voted yes, 11 lawmakers voted against the bill. No one abstained from the vote.
3rd and 4th level of South Entertainment Building.
(2nd UPDATE) — Government troops on Saturday drove away about 20 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) who stormed the town of Datu Paglas in Maguindanao.
The Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division Commander, Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, confirmed that the military launched an operation in the area on Friday after receiving reports about the presence of BIFF members.
“Kagabi ay nag-launch kami ng operasyon sa Datu Paglas, kasunod ng report ng presensiya ng BIFF sa bayan. Karugtong ito ng ating ginagawang operasyon sa SPMS box, halos isang linggo nang nagkakaroon ng encounter ang ating military at local terrorists,” said Uy.
(Last night, we launched an operation in Datu Paglas following reports on the presence of BIFF in the town. This is part of our operation in SPMS (Shariff Aguak, Pagatin, Mamasapano and Shariff Saydona) box where encounters between the military and local terrorists have been happening for almost a week.)
But Datu Paglas Vice Mayor Mohammad Paglas clarified that only 20 BIFF members stormed the area, not 100 as earlier reported.
Paglas said the earlier number was provided to him by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) national guards.
"'Yung 100 na yan, sabi ng national guard ng MILF sa akin na darating sa Paglas," he said.
"Itong final, ito sa municipal hall, ang sabi nasa 20 lang pala sila. Itong nakaatras na sila, nasa 20 na lang daw."
(The initial estimate was provided by the MILF national guards. But the final count from the municipal hall said there were 20 BIFFs. When they retreated, it was found out they were 20.)
Uy confirmed that BIFF members occupied the public market in Datu Paglas.
“Kasama 'yan sa ating ginagampanang tungkulin kung saan ay ayon sa utos ng ating Presidente Rodrigo Roa Duterte na matapos itong local terrorist problem sa kanyang termino,” Uy said.
(That is part of our mandate, based on President Duterte’s order to end local terrorist problem during his term.)
Paglas earlier said that the group has been resting in the area when the military monitored them.
"Pumasok ang grupo nila dito sa palengke pati sa Gawad Kalinga na residential house ng sibilyan. Wala naman silang hinostage na mga tao, nakipagbakbakan na lang sila sa military," said Paglas.
(The group entered the wet market and even the Gawad Kalinga housing for civilians. They did not take anyone hostage but engaged in a firefight with the military.)
The town has gone back to normal as of Sunday morning, said Lt Col John Paul Baldomar, spokesman of the 6th Infantry Division.
"Ang sitwasyon po ngayon dito sa Datu Paglas ay balik na sa normal. Ang ating palengke ay nagbukas na kanina," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.
(The situation here in Datu Paglas has gone back to normal. The public market opened earlier.)
Stranded civilians were told to go home when the clash started. Videos captured from a road, meanwhile, showed residents fleeing to safety as armored personnel carrier rolled into town.
Resident Norhaina Pangilayan said it was the BIFF group who advised them to leave the area.
“Yung mga Freedom, pinalikas na 'yung mga tao. Kasi 'baka madamay kayo' sabi nila. So ang mga tao, nakaalis na. Bago pa dumating mga sundalo, wala ng tao sa loob,” said Pangilayan.
(The [rebels] told people to leave so they won't be caught in the crossfire. So the people have already left even before the soldiers came.)
Saturday’s firefight lasted for more than an hour before the military regained control of the area.
The military assured that no soldier nor civilian was hurt, and that no property was damaged in the clash.
“Kailangan kasi natin na i-clear muna ang area dahil may nakitang IED sa lugar ngayong humupa na ang sitwasyon” he said.
(Now that the situation has subsided, we still need to clear the area because an IED was spotted there.)
The BIFF group encountered by the military was under Commander Karialan.
The neighboring town of Buluan enforced a temporary lockdown due to the encounter, according to Mayor Dhats Mangudadatu in an announcement on his Facebook page.
"No movement muna po until the situation is in control as will be announced by our PNP and AFP personnel," said Mangudadatu.
Authorities have yet to said if there were casualties from the encounter.
The BIFF is a breakaway group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which earlier brokered peace with government and is in the process of transition into self-governance in the Bangsamoro region.
— With reports from Lerio Bompat and Chrislen Bulosan
Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News
(UPDATE) - The lower number of fresh COVID-19 cases being reported in recent weeks can be attributed to the fewer number of samples being received by accredited laboratories for testing, a health official said on Saturday.
In a public briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they are observing the development, describing it as a "problem."
"Nakita natin for the past week na bumababa po ang mga sample na pinapasa ng mga implementing units sa ating laboratoryo kaya nakikita po natin na bumababa rin ang mga kaso," explained Vergeire.
(For the past week, the samples being passed to our implementing units are low, that's why our cases are also low.)
"Ating pa rin pong inoobserbahan kung ito ay dala talaga ng pag-unti ng kaso o di lang po natin nate-test ang ating mga kababayan nang marami," she said.
(We are still observing whether this is brought by the low number of cases or whether we haven't been testing enough)
Since April 18, the country has been logging less than 10,000 daily cases, but in some days, the DOH noted that this was due to the low number of samples being received by testing laboratories, fewer laboratories operating, or the low number of laboratories submitting data on time.
She also noted that the number of people tested in the past week went down by 9 percent, from almost 374,000 between April 23 and April 29 to around 342,000 between April 30 and May 6.
Vergeire, however, did not mention the ideal number of samples that the testing laboratories should be receiving daily.
"Hindi [na] po sa pag-susubmit ng mga laboratoryo ang problema natin o issue sa pagtala ng mga mababang kaso for the past week, it's about the samples that are received by the laboratories," she said.
(The problem no longer lies in the failure of laboratories to submit on time, it is now on the fewer number of samples that are being received by laboratories.)
She added that while most laboratories are able to submit data "regularly," the agency is still monitoring whether the problem lies on the low number of samples submitted or the fewer people being tested in communities.
"Nakakapag-submit na po sila ngayon ng regular araw-araw... kaya lang kung titingnan natin ang samples ng tine-test nila, ibig sabihin, the samples submitted to them para maproseso sa RT-PCR, bumaba na 'yon," according to the health official.
(They have been submitting regularly every day, but if we would look at the samples being tested, they are low.)
"Kailangan po nating ma-analyze maigi if it's really pagbaba ng samples sa pag-submit is because mababa na po ang nakikita nating mga dapat i-test sa ating mga communities, or di lang talaga nate-test 'yung iba sa ating komunidad," she said.
The ABS-CBN Data Analytics Team earlier noted that the slowdown in testing affects all data points such as the positivity rate, or the percentage of positive test results relative to the individuals tested.
In an interview with Teleradyo on Friday, Data Analytics head Edson Guido said that based on recent data, there is an "improvement" with the country's COVID-19 situation.
But Guido noted that while the country's positivity rate is declining, it is still remains high compared to the WHO's recommended 5 percent benchmark for at least 2 weeks.
As of Saturday, the country's positivity rate is at 14.3 percent based on the 50,122 samples tested for the disease on Thursday.
He urged the government to have more testing done during the stricter lockdowns, so the public could get a more bigger picture of the country's coronavirus situation.
The country has so far tallied over 1.094 million COVID-19 cases, more than 63,000 of whom are considered active infections.
Nearly 18,300 on the other hand, have died due to the virus.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/08/21/low-covid19-cases-fewer-testing-samples-received-laboratories
(2ND UPDATE) — The Philippines on Saturday received 2 million COVID-19 shots developed by Britain's Oxford-AstraZeneca through the vaccine-sharing COVAX Facility.
The vaccines arrived just before 1 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 via a Singapore Airlines flight. It is the single biggest delivery of COVID-19 vaccines the Philippines has received so far, and the second of the brand after the first shipment of 525,600 AstraZeneca doses to the Philippines also via COVAX.
JUST IN: Plane carrying shipment of AstraZeneca #COVID19 vaccines lands at NAIA Terminal 3 before 1 p.m. Saturday. @ABSCBNNews pic.twitter.com/WXkfiQJKEC
— Bianca Dava 🐈⬛😺🐈 (@biancadava) May 8, 2021
The vaccine batch raises the Philippines' total vaccine supply to 7.540 million COVID-19 shots, majority of which are from Beijing-based Sinovac Biotech.
According to officials, the vaccines will be disinfected first before being loaded to trucks that are headed to a storage facility in Marikina City.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and testing czar Secretary Vince Dizon were among the officials present to receive the shipment.
'LIFELINE' FOR FILIPINOS
The United Nations described the arrival of the vaccines as a "lifeline" for Filipinos waiting for the vaccine. In a statement, UN Philippines Resident Coordinator Gustavo Gonzalez said the arrival of the doses will "represent a lifeline" for Filipinos who have been waiting for the virus.
"This new shipment of vaccines will provide second doses to those who have already been administered the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccines, as well as other target populations," Gonzalez said.
“These 2 million doses represent a lifeline for so many Filipinos who have been waiting for relief from the suffering and the fear that this virus has brought upon all of us. Looking at these vials, I see hope and relief for Filipinos who need it most,” Gonzales said.
The UN is also working on efforts to augment the Philippines’ COVID-19 response, and regularly meeting with local health officials.
“The UN Philippines meets regularly with DOH officials to reinforce the UN’s support for the Philippines’ COVID-19 response and for the national COVID-19 vaccination programme,” UN said.
Among which are working with the Justice Department to “advocate for the inclusion of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees, especially those belonging to priority vaccination groups, in the national vaccination program.”
It is also training healthcare workers on cold chain management, COVID-19 testing, and “and is addressing misconceptions about vaccination through intensive and nationwide information campaigns."
NO REPORTS OF SIDE EFFECTS
Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to receive reports of blood clotting in those who earlier received AstraZeneca jabs, the FDA chief said Monday.
The health department had suspended the use of AstraZeneca's vaccine on those aged 59 and below following very rare reports of blood clots abroad.
But on Friday, the DOH said local governments may resume use of the brand for individuals aged below 60, saying there have been no reports of post-vaccination blood clotting in the Philippines.
Led by the World Health Organization, the COVAX platform aims to ensure vaccine access to poor countries. It pledged to secure coronavirus vaccines for 20 percent of the Philippines' 108 million people.
Jabs from COVAX will include those developed by US-based Pfizer and Johnson&Johnson, British drugs group AstraZeneca, and Covovax from the Serum Institute of India, vaccine "czar" Carlito Galvez earlier said.
Among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in Asia, the Philippines aims to inoculate 70 million people or two-thirds of its population this year.
The Philippines has vaccinated at least 1.7 million people as of May 4.
Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News
The country's genome testing capacity is still limited despite the presence of various and more transmissible COVID-19 variants, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Saturday.
In a public briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the health department only runs an average of 750 samples per week to detect the presence of virus variants.
Because of this, the DOH sent a proposal to the government so they could buy 2 additional sequencing machines that could test 750 samples per run.
"Ito pong ating whole genome sequencing, yes it is limited because we just run every week around 750 samples. Tayo po ngayon ay may move na para bumili ng additional na machines na ganito para mas madagdagan," Vergeire explained.
(Our whole genome sequencing is limited. We already have moves to buy additional machines.)
Based on the DOH bulletin as of May 3, the country has 14 active cases of COVID-19 variants, a paltry figure given the Philippines' total active infections of over 66,000 as of Friday.
Newly-reported COVID-19 patients carrying the variants, meanwhile, have already recovered from the disease after the health department's announcement, while a few have died.
But the health official explained that the agency's objective for now is to find where the cases of COVID-19 variants are located, the extent of spread, and whether they've already caused virus "clustering."
She also pointed out that while all positive samples for COVID-19 could undergo genome sequencing to detect virus variants, there is a criteria that must be met.
Among these is the non-contamination of the samples and their cycle threshold (CT) values.
"Kung mapapansin niyo, kahit nagsu-submit ang isang unit natin for genome sequencing, hindi po lahat nate-test because we still screen them pagdating sa Philippine Genome Center based on the criterion," she said.
(If you will notice, even if a laboratory unit was able to submit samples for genome sequencing, not all samples are tested because we still screen them.)
The country also has genome sequencing machines at the UP National Institutes of Health and the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, but Vergeire said they are operating at a limited capacity.
So far, the following COVID-19 variants have been detected in the country: B.1.1.7 (first detected in the UK), B.1.351 (first detected in South Africa), and P.3 (first detected in the Philippines).
The P.3 variant is not yet identified as a variant of concern since current data is insufficient to determine whether it will have significant public health implications, relevant agencies said.
The 3 variants of concern classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) are the B.1.1.7; the B.1.351; and the P.1 (first detected in Brazil).
The country has so far tallied over 1.087 million COVID-19 cases, more than 18,000 of whom have died due to the disease.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/08/21/ph-genome-capacity-limited-covid19-variants
Daan-daang piraso ng ecstasy ang nasabat sa apat na lalaki sa isinagawang buy-bust operation ng Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency at Philippine National Police sa Bonifacio Global City, Taguig nitong Sabado.
Naaresto sa operasyon ang 4 na lalaki na nasa loob nang sasakyan nang magkaroon ng bayaran sa agent na nagpanggap na buyer.
Ayon sa ulat ng National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), nakumpiska ang 500 piraso ng Molly o capsulized ecstasy at 100 piraso ng MDMA o ecstasy tablet na nasa halos P2 million ang tinatayang kabuuang halaga.
Ayon kay NCRPO Regional Director Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., bahagi ito ng isang follow-up operation na layong matunton ang supply chain ng party drugs sa Metro Manila na isinuplong ng mga dati na nilang naaresto.
-- Ulat ni Michael Delizo, ABS-CBN News
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/08/21/p2-milyong-halaga-ng-ecstasy-nakumpiska-sa-bgc-4-tiklo
Daniella Cheslow, Agence France-Presse
More than 160 people were wounded after Israeli riot police clashed with Palestinians at Jerusalem's flashpoint Al-Aqsa mosque compound late Friday, capping a week of violence in the Holy City and the occupied West Bank.
Stones, bottles and fireworks were hurled at officers who fired rubber bullets and stun grenades at the crowds at Islam's third-holiest site, also revered by Jews as the location of two biblical-era temples.
At least 163 Palestinians and six Israeli officers were reported wounded at Al-Aqsa and elsewhere in east Jerusalem, as the Palestinian Red Crescent said it had opened a field hospital because emergency rooms were full.
Police said officers had restored order because of the "rioting of thousands of worshippers" after evening prayers.
Tensions in Jerusalem have soared in recent weeks as Palestinians have protested against Israel's restrictions on access to parts of the Old City during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, and after authorities ordered several Palestinian families to leave their homes to make way for Israeli settlers.
The United States called for "de-escalation" and said the threatened evictions could worsen the situation in east Jerusalem, as the United Nations warned the forced evictions could amount to "war crimes."
Friday's unrest came on Al-Quds (the Arabic name for Jerusalem) Day, an annual day of pro-Palestinian rallies held by Iran, the arch-enemy of Israel, which also saw many thousands march in majority-Muslim countries across the region and as far as Pakistan.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said that he held the Israeli government "responsible" for the unrest and voiced "full support for our heroes in Aqsa."
International observers urged calm, while UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Tor Vennesland tweeted his concern and urged all parties to "respect the status quo of holy sites in Jerusalem's Old City in the interest of peace & stability."
The clashes erupted as Muslims packed the Al-Aqsa compound to pray on the last Friday of Ramadan.
In 2000, the compound was where the second Palestinian intifada broke out after a visit there by former opposition and right-wing Israeli leader Ariel Sharon, seen as a painful provocation by Palestinians.
Week of violence
Earlier on Friday, Israeli security forces killed two Palestinians and wounded a third after the trio opened fire on the Salem base in the occupied West Bank, police said, with the incident following days of bloody clashes and killings.
On Sunday, a 19-year-old Israeli was fatally wounded in a drive-by shooting at the West Bank Tapuah junction bus stop.
Israeli security forces said they had arrested Montasser Shalabi, 44, near Ramallah, on suspicion of carrying out the attack. Palestinian sources said Shalabi is a dual US national.
On Wednesday, Israeli troops killed a 16-year-old Palestinian when they opened fire on protesters throwing petrol bombs, also in the West Bank.
And clashes have broken out between police and demonstrators in the east Jerusalem Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood -- fuelled by a years-long land dispute between Palestinian refugees and Jewish settlers.
AFP correspondents said around 100 protesters again rallied Friday night in the neighborhood, with officers using stun grenades and water cannon to disperse them.
The incidents in Sheikh Jarrah and around Damascus Gate -- a key entry point to the Old City -- left many wounded, the Red Crescent said, adding to the toll of around 22 wounded in confrontations earlier in the week.
Israeli police also said they made 26 arrests between Wednesday and Thursday.
Meanwhile in Jordan -- home to a large Palestinian population -- hundreds rallied Friday, chanting "we will die for Sheikh Jarrah."
The nation administered the West Bank, including mostly Arab east Jerusalem, until the 1967 Six-Day War and remains the custodian of Muslim holy sites in the city.
Earlier this year, a district court ruled four Palestinian homes in Sheikh Jarrah legally belonged to Jewish families.
The Jewish plaintiffs claimed their families lost the land during the war that accompanied Israel's creation in 1948, a conflict that also saw hundreds of thousands of Palestinians displaced.
The Sheikh Jarrah families have provided evidence that their homes were acquired from Jordanian authorities, who controlled east Jerusalem from 1948 to 1967.
Israel's Supreme Court is to hold a new hearing in the case on Monday.
Patay ang isang lalaki matapos matabunan ng gumuhong lupa mula sa ginagawang balon sa Barangay Nagsulang sa bayan ng Lemery sa Iloilo, Biyernes ng umaga.
Nakilala ang namatay na si Daniel Biana, 24 anyos at nakatira sa Barangay Carmelo sa Banate sa naturang lalawigan.
Sa imbestigasyon ng Lemery Police, kasama ng biktima ang kaniyang ama sa paghuhukay sa ginagawang balon nang bigla itong gumuho at natabunan ang dalawa.
May 15 talampakan ang lalim ng balon kung saan natabunan ang mag-ama.
Mapalad naman na nakaligtas ang ama na kaagad nakaakyat sa itaas.
Samantala, umabot pa ng 30 minuto bago nakuha ang anak nito mula sa gumuhong balon.
Kaagad na dinala sa ospital ang biktima pero idineklarang dead on arrival ng doktor.
- Ulat ni Rolen Escaniel
Quezon 3rd District Rep. Aleta Suarez announced on Saturday morning that she too tested positive for COVID-19, just days after her husband Gov. Danilo Suarez found out had been infected.
Suarez made the announcement on the social media account of the Quezon provincial government.
The lawmaker remains asymptomatic and is now under home isolation, being monitored by a doctor.
She said she underwent an RT-PCR test last May 6 as a close contact of her husband who had tested positive. She received the test result on Friday.
Suarez urged those who she had close contact with the past few days to go on self-quarantine and have them monitored for symptoms.
She likewise appealed to the public to strictly observe minimum health protocols such as wearing a face mask and face shield, hand washing and physical distancing at all times.
Patay ang isang 9 anyos na batang babae matapos mahulog sa creek at malunod Biyernes ng hapon sa Barangay Manuel Guingga, Tugbok District, Davao City.
Ayon kay Police Maj. Ricky Obenza, hepe ng Tugbok Police, binabaybay ng biktimang si Ashley Ongco at 11-anyos nitong pinsan
ang daan sa gilid ng creek sa kasagsagan ng pagapaw ng baha.
Natumba umano si Ongco at natangay ng rumaragasang tubig baha.
Papunta sana ang mag-pinsan sa bahay ng kanilang lola.
Agad nagsagawa ng search and rescue operation ang awtoridad pero patay na nang matagpuan ang bata may isang kilometro mula sa pinaghulugan nito.
Samantala, pinaghahanap pa rin ang isang 4-taong gulang na bata sa Caraga, Davao Oriental matapos anurin ng baha pasado alas-5 ng hapon sa Barangay Poblacion.
Malakas ang agos ng tubig kaya nahirapan ang mga kawani ng Caraga Fire Station na hanapin ang bata.
Matapos ang dalawang oras, itinigil na ang search operation dahil madilim na.
Nakaranas ng malakas na pagbuhos ng ulan ang Davao region nitong Biyernes dahil sa Intertropical Convergence Zone.
- Ulat ni Francis Magbanua
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/08/21/1-patay-1-nawawala-sa-pagbaha-sa-davao-region
President Rodrigo Duterte's commitment to international agreements with the territorial row in the West Philippine Sea in his first speech at the United Nations stands as the Philippines' "supreme expression of foreign policy" on the waterway's issue, according to the Department on Foreign Affairs (DFA).
The DFA issued this statement Friday, two days after Duterte likened Manila's arbitral victory — that invalidated Beijing's sweeping claims to the disputed waters — to a piece of "paper," which he said led to nothing.
"The Department will continue to implement the President's foreign policy statement in accordance with Philippine national interest," the foreign office said.
A United Nations-backed court in 2016 ruled in favor of Manila and junked Beijing's claim to about 90 percent of the South China Sea, within which is the smaller West Philippine Sea.
In his first speech at the United Nations General Assembly last September, Duterte rejected what he called attempts to undermine the Philippines’ victory in the 2016 ruling. He vowed to keep its commitment to international agreements with the territorial row in the disputed waters.
But Duterte caused another public uproar Wednesday after he said that if the arbitral ruling was given during his time as the President, instead of then-President Benigno Aquino Jr.'s term, he will just junk it.
"Tapos sabi nila itong papel sa kaso nanalo tayo, i-pursue mo. Pinursue ko, walang nangyari," he said. "Actually sa usapang bugoy, sabihin ko sa ‘yo, bigay mo sa akin, sabihin ko, ‘P***** *** papel lang ‘yan, itatapon ko ‘yan sa wastebasket.'"
(They tell me to pursue this paper because we won. I pursued it but nothing happened. Actually, if you give that to me, I will tell you, 'Son of *****, I will throw that in the wastebasket.')
The DFA highlighted the ruling's importance at the 34th ASEAN-United States Dialogue on Thursday.
DFA Undersecretary Elizabeth Buensuceso recalled Manila's protest against the shadowing, blocking, dangerous maneuvers, and radio challenges by the Chinese Coast Guard against Philippine Coast Guard vessels, during the PCG's maritime patrols and training exercises in late April in Scarborough Shoal.
Scarborough is a small ring of reefs that lies about 230 kilometers from the Philippines and 650 kilometers from the nearest Chinese landmass.
Buensuceso said these moves by Chinese vessels threaten Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, and the security and stability in the region.
Ambassador Atul Keshap, head of the United States delegation, agreed with the Philippine side and reiterated US State Secretary Antony Blinken’s commitment to DFA Sec. Teodoro L. Locsin, Jr. that the United States will stand by the side of their ASEAN partners, especially the Philippines, its long-time ally.
“Maritime cooperation is a vital element, a solid foundation for the prosperity, peace, and continued work of ASEAN with our external partners like the United States...We stand to succeed by combining our diverse knowledge in this very important area of cooperation,” Buensuceso said.
Manila and Beijing's spat over the disputed waterway flared again last March after hundreds of Chinese boats were spotted inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
China has rejected multiple calls from the Philippines to withdraw its boats, escalating tensions as Manila steps up maritime patrols in the area.
Despite the superpower's aggression and alleged violations in the West Philippine Sea, Duterte has leaned towards Beijing for help since he assumed power in June 2016.
Critics have slammed him for his past statements and actions allegedly cowing to China, particularly with the West Philippine Sea issue.
DAVAO CITY - Binaha ang maraming lugar sa Tugbok at Calinan district sa Davao City nitong Biyernes ng hapon dahil sa malakas na pag-ulan dulot ng Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
Isang 9 na taong gulang bata naman ang nawawala matapos madulas sa isang ilog sa Tugbok district, ayon sa ulat ng Davao City Central 911.
Sa video na kuha ni Elmeradel de Castro, makikitang maingat ang mga motorista sa pagdaan sa binahang kalsada sa highway ng Tugbok.
Sa video ni Jessa Rose Lagaac, makikita ang pagragasa ng tubig sa ilog sa Balite, Calinan district.
Umapaw na ito sa ilang bahagi at binaha ang ilang bahay ang taniman sa Purok 1, Barangay Balite.
Nagdulot naman ng perwisyo ang pagbaha sa mga bahay at ari-arian sa San Juan, Barangay Balenga-eng.
Sa ulat pa ng Central 911, may mga na-trap nang pamilya sa lugar at nagsasagawa na sila ng rescue operations.
- Ulat ni Hernel Tocmo
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/07/21/baha-tugbok-calinan-district-davao-city
Multiply might need to wait a little longer before it can see the light for social networking portion.
The glint of hope for reviving the website and reopening the social networking portion suddenly went bleak after former CEO and owner Stefan Magdalinski broke the bad news.
READ: 6 Steps to Reviving a Failing Business
Filipinos and foreigners hopes to reviving the website and to reopen it's social networking portion, when Magdalinski said that any efforts of reviving the website and its social networking portion would have to wait for the next administration.
READ: Tips To Revive Your Dead Website
“Calls to revive Multiply and its social networking portion including blogs, photos and videos will have to wait until the next administration.”
He added, “With a little over a year until the 2022 elections, the world is bent on focusing the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte fulfills his campaign promise to the Filipino people.”
Multiply.com has been shutdown since May 31, 2013.
It would keep Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok, Twitter and Tumblr are the social networking sites.
To recall, Multiply has covered several events ranging from national and local cultural, entertainment, fashion, lifestyle, sports from March 2004 to March 15, 2013 compiled by Multiply social networking users.
Under the new presidential administration, Multiply.com will make a return: to construct a new permanent Philippine headquarters building in Clark, Pampanga with a data center, hiring former employees and retaining the 2013 Multiply logo.
TINGLAYAN - Umabot sa P11 milyong halaga ng pananim na marijuana ang sinira ng mga awtoridad sa 2 araw nilang operasyon sa bayan na ito sa Kalinga, ayon sa pulisya.
Ayon sa Kalinga Police Provincial Office, Miyerkoles nang kanilang matunton kasama ng mga operatiba ng Regional Intelligence Unit ng Cordillera Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Kalinga, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Kalinga at Naval Forces Northern Luzon ang 3 taniman ng marijuana sa Barangay Loccong.
Natapos ang operasyon nila nitong Huwebes kung saan binunot at sinunog ang mga pananim na marijuana.
Sa unang taniman na mayroong 1,000 square meters ang lawak, tumambad ang nasa 10,000 fully-grown marijuana plants na tinatayang nagkakahalaga ng P2 milyon, ayon sa pahayag ng pulisya.
Umaabot sa humigit-kumulang 30,000 fully-grown marijuana plants naman ang nakita naman sa ikalawang taniman na mayroong 3,000 square meters ang lawak. Nagkakahalaga umano ng P6 milyon ang marijuana plants dito.
Habang nasa P3 milyon ang halaga ng humigit-kumulang 15,000 fully-grown marijuana plants ang nadiskubre sa ikatlong taniman na may tinatayang land area na 1,500 square meters ang lawak.
Ayon sa pulisya, simula Enero ngayong taon, uamabot na sa 13 marijuana eradication operations ang naikasa ng mga awtoridad sa Kalinga.
- Ulat ni Harris Julio
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/06/21/nasa-11-milyon-halaga-marijuana-sinira-kalinga
