DUTERTE: 'HIGHEST BIDDER' WINS IN COVID-19 GLOBAL VACCINE SUPPLY; ACCUSES EU
OF HOLDING VACCINES HOSTAGE
MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday claimed that countries that can
pay more are being prioritized by pharmaceutical companies in the
distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
This is why the Philippines has yet to receive its supply of COVID-19
vaccines, Duterte said in his weekly public briefing.
"Alam niyo ho itong problema talaga ng COVID, hindi ganoon kadali. For one,
the greatest disadvantage natin is hindi tayo mayaman at ito labanan ito
ngayon sa highest bidder nga. Kung sino 'yung makabayad ng una, magdeposito
na, tapos lalo na kung 'yung bansa na 'yun 'yung humihingi ng supply ng
vaccine is the country where the factory is located, nauuna talaga sa
kanila," he said.
He also said that the prices of vaccines is uniform, and countries like the
Philippines have to pay the same.
"'Yung mga price price, haggling lang 'yan. Eventually, mag-taper off 'yan
into a uniformity in prices," Duterte said.
"Hindi mo naman sabihin na sa isang lugar, sa Pilipinas, ipagbili mo ng 500,
tapos sa ibang countries because these are manufactured there, ipagbili lang
ng $1, $5," he added.
Duterte likewise claimed that COVID-19 vaccines produced by AstraZeneca have
been "hostaged" by the European Union.
"Eh 'yung AstraZeneca, hinostage ng European Union. Sa Europe kasi, parang
iisa na lang sila," he said.
He accused the European Union of holding up supplies of COVID-19 vaccines to
other countries and complained that less wealthy countries lacked the power
to secure all they sought.
'WE ARE SINKING': DUTERTE SAYS PHILIPPINES LOSING P2 BILLION DAILY DUE TO
COVID-19
MANILA - The Philippines is losing P2 billion a day due to COVID-19,
President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday, claiming the country's economy was
doing well before the pandemic struck.
"Araw-araw, we are losing P2 billion na pera na para sana 'yun sa tao. The
workers, the Filipino workers would have earned that money kung ang
ekonomiya natin gumagalaw," he said in an aired public briefing.
"We are sinking deeper and deeper."
Duterte said the Philippine economy is in "bad shape" but he reasoned that
the other countries are also suffering economically. The President assured
his administration is doing its best "to keep us afloat."
Earlier in the day, the Philippines' economic planning chief said the
country is losing P700 million in wages and other income each day that Metro
Manila and other regions remain on general community quarantine.
Metro Manila, the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and six other
areas remain on general community quarantine for the whole of February to
contain the spread of new coronavirus variants in the country.
Acting Socioeconomic Planning Sec. Karl Chua however said keeping these
areas under GCQ was the right move so health authorities will know more
about the new variants of the virus that causes COVID-19.
He said the Philippine economy is off to a "slow start" in 2021, but
economic managers are betting on a 6.5 to 7.5 percent GDP growth this year,
looking towards a strong comeback from the 9.5-percent contraction for 2020
the country's worst performance since World War 2.
CHINESE EMBASSY DENIES HARASSMENT OF FILIPINO FISHERMEN
MANILA - The Chinese embassy in the Philippines on Monday dismissed as "fake
news" reports about the alleged harassment of Filipino fishermen and what
they described as the sensationalizing of the entry of a Chinese scientific
survey ship into Philippine waters as an "intrusion."
In a statement about Chinas coast guard law, the embassy claimed that "some
forces in the Philippines" misinterpreted Chinas "normal legislation."
"Some forces in the Philippines, either for their own political interests or
out of prejudice toward China, have not only misinterpreted China's normal
legislation, but also fabricated and spread relentlessly fake news...
despite repeated denial from authorities concerned including the Philippine
Armed Forces," the statement read.
"They have also gone as far as to sensationalize the entry of a Chinese
scientific survey ship into Philippine waters as an 'intrusion.'"
It said that the Chinese scientific survey ship "is seeking humanitarian
shelter in Philippine waters due to unfavorable weather and sea conditions
in the Pacific where they are scheduled to conduct research mission" and
sought the proper clearance and assistance from the Philippine government.
"The ship has sought clearance and humanitarian assistance from the
Philippine government and maintained communication with its relevant
authorities all the time," the Chinese Embassy said.
"Under UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), International
Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and international customary
law, every coastal state is obliged to provide necessary humanitarian
assistance to save life at sea. It is a fact that China and the Philippines
have been rendering assistance to each other on many similar humanitarian
occasions," it added.
The embassy issued the statement when asked about presence of a Chinese
survey ship in Catanduanes.
"Everyone is entitled freedom of speech. However, malicious hype-up and
irresponsible and baseless accusations that run counter to common sense, are
not acceptable and should not be appeased in a society that believes in rule
of law and international norms as well as mutual respect."
The Chinese embassy said its coast guard law does not specifically target
any specific country and that it is "committed to managing differences with
countries including the Philippines through dialogue and consultations and
upholding peace and stability in the South China Sea."
It added that the law is "a normal domestic legislative activity of China"
and that it "conforms to international conventions and the practices of the
international community."
PHILIPPINES WONT MEDDLE: ITS AN INTERNAL MATTER
MANILA The Philippines is prioritizing the safety of its citizens in
Myanmar and sees the military takeover in the country as an internal matter
that we will not meddle with, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said
yesterday.
Whats important is the safety of our countrymen in Myanmar, Roque told a
briefing, adding, We expect things to go back to normal as soon as
possible.
He said the Philippine military is on standby in case there would be a need
to send air assets or ships to Myanmar to evacuate Filipinos.
If some Filipinos want to come home, we will find a way. If they need a
temporary shelter in the embassy, we will find a way and we also advise all
our fellow Filipinos to be careful, the Palace spokesman said.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said it has reached out to the
Filipino community in Myanmar. There are 1,273 Filipinos in Myanmar,
according to DFAs June 2020 data.
At the moment, situation in Yangon and Mandalay seems stable, apart from
COVID restrictions and mobile lines being down, the DFA said. However, the
embassy is able to communicate with Filcom through WhatsApp.
DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said what happened in Myanmar was more of a
chess move than a coup.
Report from Myanmar indicates a chess move but not a coup on the part of
the MDS (Myanmar Defense Services); the CIC (Commander in Chief) committed
to respect the 2008 Constitution which respects military role, Locsin
tweeted.
Were not depending on Western narratives. Last time world did Libya ended
up in pieces picked up by Western powers, he said.
The West never gave her a chance to succeed weaning Myanmar from
dictatorship to democracy making it one of a tiny handful in Asia. Instead
the West went into a spasm of masturbatory self-righteousness totally
unmerited given how many races it decimated in just the 20th century,
Locsin said.
Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana also downplayed the events in Myanmar,
saying a takeover by the armed forces will never happen in the
Philippines.
The military in Myanmar, citing election fraud, seized power and detained
elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders of her party.
Lorenzana said Myanmar is ruled by a military junta, unlike the Philippines
which has a rich democratic tradition.
COMELEC DEACTIVATES 7 MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS
MANILA At least seven million registered voters have been dropped from the
rolls of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ahead of the 2022 general
elections.
Some seven million voters were deactivated due to, among other reasons,
failure to vote in two consecutive elections, Comelec Commissioner Rowena
Guanzon said yesterday.
Under the Voters Registration Act, a registration may be deactivated if the
voter fails to cast his ballot in two successive regular elections.
Deactivation can also be done among those sentenced by the court to not less
than one year in prison; persons who have committed crimes involving
disloyalty to the government such as rebellion, sedition, violation of the
anti-subversion and firearms laws, and those declared by competent authority
to be insane.
The law states that a voter may be deactivated if his registration has been
ordered excluded by the court and he has lost his Filipino citizenship.
Comelec data showed 1,050,793 voters have registered for next years
elections as of Jan. 7.
Around 700,000 voters previously delisted by the Comelec have applied for
reactivation of their registration.
The poll body is targeting four million new registrants by the end of the
voter registration on Sept. 30.
DUTERTE VOWS JUSTICE FOR SLAIN OFW IN ABU DHABI
MANILA President Duterte vowed justice for an overseas Filipino worker
(OFW) whose decomposing body was found in Abu Dhabi, Malacañang announced
yesterday.
The promise of the President is there would be justice for the death of
Mary Ann Daynolo, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said at a press
briefing.
Roque said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration would shoulder the
burial expenses and provide financial assistance to the victims family.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said the remains of Daynolo were repatriated
on Sunday.
She has been missing from her workplace in Abu Dhabi since March last year.
Bello said the National Bureau of Investigation would conduct an autopsy and
DNA test to confirm whether the body found in the United Arab Emirates was
that of Daynolo.
He said the parents of Daynolo requested for DNA test and autopsy to
determine what caused her death.
The Philippine government would run after two more suspects in the killing
of Daynolo, Bello said.
The main suspect, an Ugandan known only as Paul, reportedly owned up to the
crime following his arrest. His two unidentified companions remain at large.
Abu Dhabi police exhumed the remains of Daynolo last month. Paul led
authorities to the place where Daynolo was buried.
THE REST
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FULL ENFORCEMENT OF CHILD CAR SEAT LAW SHOULD BE DEFERRED AMID PANDEMIC:
DOTR, LTO
The Department of Transportation and Land Transportation Office are backing
the deferment of the full implementation of the Child Car Seat Law mandating
children to be seated in car seats while inside motor vehicles to ensure
their protection in the event of an accident.
"Both the DOTr and LTO are in agreement that a deferment of the full
implementation/enforcement of this new rule is warranted, especially given
our current economic situation amid this still raging pandemic," the DOTr
said in a statement.
The full implementation of Republic Act No. 11229, or the Child Safety in
Motor Vehicles Act, begins February 2, 2021, meaning children aged 12 and
below must be properly secured in appropriate car seats while traveling in a
private motor vehicle.
In its statement, the DOTr said the law was passed by Congress and signed by
President Duterte in February 22, 2019. The Implementing Rules and
Regulations (IRR) was approved last December 23, 2019 and took effect on
February 2020.
"This is not just a policy or rule implemented by the DOTr nor LTO on its
own volition," DOTr said.
It said there will be a one-year transitory period before the mandatory
compliance with the law as stated in the IRR.
It said deferment of the full enforcement of the law should be done until a
comprehensive information, education, and communications campaign is
executed in close coordination with NGOs, CSOs, and agencies such as the
Philippine Information Agency, Department of Education and Department of
Health.
An LTO official earlier came under fire after saying that families with
taller kids should get bigger cars in order to comply with the law, which
takes effect today.
LTO-National Capital Region director Clarence Guinto later apologized for
his remark.
"I am sorry for the confusion I have caused with my remark, which was made
in jest. I realized now that it was inappropriate," Guinto, a lawyer, said.
4 REBELS SLAIN IN CAMSUR CLASH
LEGAZPI CITY Four suspected New Peoples Army (NPA) guerrillas were killed
in an encounter in Garchitorena, Camarines Sur yesterday.
The military has yet to identify the fatalities, according to Capt. John
Paul Belleza, public affairs chief of the Armys 9th Infantry Division.
Soldiers were patrolling in Barangay Toytoy when they clashed with members
of the NPAs Guerrilla Front Larangan 1 shortly before noon.
The military recovered from the scene of the encounter nine assault rifles,
four of which reportedly belonged to the slain rebels.
A pursuit operation was launched for the fleeing guerrillas.
NAVOTAS LIFTS LIQUOR BAN
MANILA The Navotas government has lifted the liquor ban following a
decrease in the number of COVID-19 active cases.
The ban on the sale of alcoholic beverages in Navotas was lifted upon the
request of the public, according to an ordinance signed by Mayor Toby
Tiangco on Sunday.
Tiangco said the liquor ban was lifted as the COVID-19 situation in the city
has become manageable.
He said drinking in public places in the city remains prohibited based on a
2002 ordinance.
As of Sunday, there were 54 active cases of COVID in the city, 5,385
recoveries and 174 deaths.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
COCO MARTIN PROPOSES TO ANGELICA PANGANIBAN IN 'LOVE OR MONEY' TEASER
MANILA -- Star Cinema on Monday finally unveiled the teaser of Love or
Money, the first movie team up of Angelica Panganiban and Coco Martin.
The clip opens with Panganiban and Martin having drinks at a bar while
arguing which between love or money is more important.
At the end of their banter, Martin kneels before Panganiban to ask for her
hand in marriage.
Balikan mo ako kapag mayaman ka na, Panganiban responded.
Just before a lockdown was imposed last year due to the coronavirus
pandemic, Panganiban and Martin were in Dubai to shoot some scenes for the
movie.
Directed by Mae Cruz Alviar, the movie was originally slated to come out in
April as part of the first-ever Metro Manila Summer Film Festiva.
To be distributed by Cinexpress, Love or Money will be streaming on
KTX.ph, iWant TFC, TFC IPTV, Cignal PPV, and Sky Cable PPV beginning March
12.
'PURE JOKE': MAN BEHIND VIRAL LENI ROBREDO-RACHEL ALEJANDRO POST SPEAKS UP
MANILA - Mark Raven Dominguez originally posted it as a joke, but he didn't
expect his post to reach Vice President Leni Robredo.
Dominguez posted a photo of actress Rachel Alejandro on his Facebook page on
Saturday night with the caption: "Nasaan ang bise presidente? Busy naman
pala sa Palawan. Ughhhh."
It was clear on Dominguez's post that it was Alejandro's photo, since what
he posted was a screen grab of the actress' post on Instagram.
It seemed, however, that a lot of people didn't get the joke. By Monday
afternoon, Robredo shared a screen grab of Dominguez' post, explaining it
was not her on the photo after several people sent the original post to her.
"Was initially confused why a number of people are sending me this. Kalma
lang po. Hindi ako yan. Andito po ako sa opisina, wala sa Palawan??," she
wrote.
Dominguez, a nurse by profession, said he did not expect his post to reach
Robredo.
He also did not expect it to go viral, since he merely posted it as a joke.
"I just want to say thats a pure sarcasm joke. I just want to chill from
our toxic political insights. I know thats Miss Rachel Alejandro first-hand
because that was clearly her Instagram feed," Dominguez told ABS-CBN News.
He also said he did not mean to offend anyone.
"Sorry if I offended them (if that so)," Dominguez added.
According to Dominguez, he has received comments and messages accusing him
of being against Robredo, but he clarified that his post is not political.
"And I just want to make clear things that I am not a DDS or Dilawan or
such. I dont have any political colors, I know what is just and right," he
explained.
Meanwhile, Alejandro also reacted to Robredo's post, thanking her for
everything that she's doing as the country's vice president.
"VP Leni, ako din po, I got so many comments that I look like you when I
posted that photo on IG. Napa-smile nalang ako ??. Basta pag may movie
tungkol sa buhay niyo, may idea na kayo sino ang puedeng mag-portray ??,"
she wrote.
"I dont believe weve properly met but let me use this opportunity to thank
you for all that you do. ??," Alejandro added.
Robredo, likewise, thanked Alejandro for being gracious about being dragged
into the issue.
"Nakakahiya sayo, Rachel. Thank you for being very gracious about it.
Pasensiya na, nadamay ka. But I am so flattered to be compared to you??,"
she wrote.
Alejandro originally posted her photo in Palawan on her Instagram account
last January 20.
SPORTS
NBA SCORES JAN 31
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Clippers 16-5 29 37 35 28 129
Knicks 9-12 31 34 26 24 115
SCORING LEADERS
K. Leonard LAC
28 PTS, 4 REB, 3 AST
J. Randle NY
27 PTS, 12 REB, 5 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Jazz 15-5 29 25 37 26 117
Nuggets 12-8 43 36 24 25 128
SCORING LEADERS
B. Bogdanovic UTA
29 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST
N. Jokic DEN
47 PTS, 12 REB, 5 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Magic 8-13 15 29 29 29 102
Raptors 8-12 27 31 26 31 115
SCORING LEADERS
C. Anthony ORL
16 PTS, 5 REB, 6 AST
P. Siakam TOR
30 PTS, 10 REB, 3 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Nets 13-9 38 33 37 38 146
Wizards 4-12 28 37 36 48 149
SCORING LEADERS
K. Durant BKN
37 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST
R. Westbrook WAS
41 PTS, 10 REB, 8 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
76ers 15-6 18 36 28 37 119
Pacers 11-9 28 35 32 15 110
SCORING LEADERS
T. Harris PHI
27 PTS, 8 REB, 0 AST
M. Brogdon IND
25 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Cavaliers 9-11 35 26 25 18 104
Timberwolves 5-14 30 25 33 21 109
SCORING LEADERS
A. Drummond CLE
25 PTS, 22 REB, 4 AST
A. Edwards MIN
23 PTS, 5 REB, 4 AST
INDICATORS
FOREX $1 = P 48.06
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
A quarrel between friends, when made up, adds a new tie to friendship. -
Francis de Sales
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