REPORT SHOWS POSSIBLE CONSTRUCTION ON MISCHIEF REEF AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC

 

 

 

MANILA — A firm based in Florida conducting satellite imagery analysis has published a report this February showing what appeared to be movement and structural changes on Chinese-occupied Mischief Reef in the disputed West Philippine Sea.

 

The development, an expert said, could indicate further construction operations on the artificial island, known in the Philippines as Panganiban Reef, in the days to come.

 

The West Philippine Sea is the Philippines' exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, which China claims in near entirety.

 

In their February 2021 report titled “New Construction on Mischief Reef,” the firm Simularity pointed to significant changes in 7 areas of Mischief Reef. The movement also seemed to have occurred in late 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

An area that the company labelled Site Number 1 appeared bare and vacant on May 7, 2020. But another photo of the same area on Feb. 4, 2021 showed the area with standing roofed structures, and the “construction of a permanent cylindrical structure 16 meters in diameter that started in early December 2020.”

 

The company said that this was “a possible antennae mount structure.”

 

Simularity’s reports used “AI-driven satellite imagery anomaly detection” processed by “human geospatial intelligence analysts,” and said it enables them to monitor and release information on the South China Sea on a weekly basis.

 

Meanwhile, Site Number 2 was pictured on May 7, 2020 as an area full of large rectangular structures that resemble either containers or housing. On Feb. 4, 2021, however, the same area was cleared of the rectangular structures.

 

Simularity’s partner company, AllSource, also observed a “structure; a concrete structure with a large radome cover” in the same space.

 

 

 

 

 

PH INSTALLS MORE SOVEREIGN MARKERS ON NORTHERN ISLANDS

 

 

 

MANILA - The Philippine military on Wednesday installed markers on two islands north of Cagayan to assert sovereignty in the country's maritime territory.

 

The Northern Luzon Command, in a statement, said it placed sovereign markers at Mabaag and Barit Islands in Aparri, Cagayan in addition to the 11 markers installed last year in uninhabited islands north of the province within the Babuyan Channel.

 

It said the markers were placed in "prominent areas...making them clearly visible to vessels transiting the waterways in the country's northern maritime territory."

 

"These islands and their surrounding territorial waters are an integral part of the country's territory. Thus, these markers will help us ensure that our sovereignty will be recognized in these areas," said Commodore Caesar Valencia, commander of Naval Forces Northern Luzon.

 

The maritime territory must be secured as it is a "key source of livelihood due to its abundant marine resources and a strategic trading route to boost our economy," said Lt. Gen. Arnulfo Burgos Jr, commander of Northern Luzon Command.

 

"Rest assured that we will remain proactive and vigilant in ensuring the security of our people, as we safeguard our sovereignty and preserve the integrity of our national territory in this part of our country," he said.

 

Philippine Navy Vice Admiral Giovanni Bacordo earlier said the country is repairing several vessels that would be deployed to the West Philippine Sea following China's new law which authorizes its coast guard to fire at foreign vessels and tear down structures built by other countries.

 

 

 

 

 

PALACE TWITS LACSON: LAWYER DUTERTE KNOWS THE CONSTITUTION

 

 

 

MANILA — President Duterte knows the Constitution and is in fact trained in law, Malacañang officials said yesterday to counter Sen. Panfilo Lacson’s suggestion that the Chief Executive may have missed some provisions when he insisted the Senate should keep out of foreign affairs.

 

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. and chief presidential legal adviser Salvador Panelo separately criticized Lacson over his statements following the President’s remarks about the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) in his public address last Monday night.

 

Lacson, in his Twitter account, advised Duterte to read the 1987 Constitution, particularly Article VII Section 21, following the President’s decision to call out the senator for likening the VFA review to extortion. Panelo said this was a “flawed narrative.”

 

The provision states: “No treaty or international agreement shall be valid and effective unless concurred in by at least two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate.”

 

Corazon Aquino, during her presidency, had pushed for the extension of the bases agreement with the US. The Senate, however, rejected her appeal and voted to shut down the US bases by 1992.

 

 

 

 

 

FDA: NO EUA, NO SINOVAC IN PHILIPPINES

 

 

 

MANILA — The expected arrival of Sinovac vaccines from China on Feb. 23 is still up in the air as the company has yet to submit four required documents to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

 

In an interview with “The Chiefs” aired on One News/TV5 last Tuesday night, FDA director general Eric Domingo said the agency could not yet decide on the application of Sinovac for emergency use authorization (EUA) because the vaccine maker has not completed its documents.

 

“If they are not approved by Feb. 23, they cannot bring or use it (here). You need an authorization to use a vaccine in the Philippines,” Domingo said.

 

The vaccine expert panel had a meeting with Sinovac last Monday night, and the company “promised” to submit its pending documents within the week, according to the FDA chief.

 

Domingo said he could not ascertain when the FDA could issue Sinovac’s EUA as he underscored that this “depends on the company.”

 

“I cannot set a date… It’s a 50-50 chance. It does not solely depend on me because if I’m going to make a decision, I’m going to make a conscious decision,” he added.

 

 

 

 

 

MUNTINLUPA COURT JUNKS 1 OF 3 DRUG CASES VS DE LIMA

 

 

 

MANILA — A Muntinlupa court has acquitted detained Sen. Leila de Lima in 1 of the 3 drug cases she is facing but denied her bid to junk a second case involving former bodyguard Ronnie Dayan.

 

The ruling came just days before De Lima marked four years of detention at the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame. Two other cases are pending against her, but the vocal administration critic has long denied involvement in the drug trade, saying the charges were political.

 

Muntinlupa Regional Trial Court Branch 205 Judge Leizel Aquiatan on Wednesday issued two rulings on the demurrers filed by De Lima. A demurrer is essentially a motion to dismiss a case due to insufficient evidence.

 

Aquiatan granted De Lima’s demurrer to evidence in the case involving Jad Dera, who supposedly ran the illegal drug trade in Bilibid with the detained senator.

 

Prosecution had alleged that Dera received money from convicted drug lord Peter Co on behalf of De Lima, but the court found no connection between Dera and the senator.

 

“But no link between the two accused was proven, and thus, it cannot be concluded that they agreed to engage in illegal drug trading,” the court said.

 

Witnesses previously testified that the money Dera supposedly received from Co was for a kidnap-for-ransom case involving Co’s niece, which did not involve the senator.

 

The grant of the demurrer amounts to an acquittal on the part of De Lima but not for Dera, who may still be found guilty by the court for supposedly participating in the alleged drug trading.

 

“In the absence of conspiracy, Dera is responsible only for the consequences of his acts,” it added, denying Dera’s demurrer.

 

He was, however, allowed to post bail of P500,000.

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE LAWMAKERS STRUGGLE TO FIND FAULT IN LOPEZ LOAN WITH DBP

 

 

 

MANILA — House lawmakers struggled their way back to finding fault after hitting a stonewall in the second hearing meant to probe loans of the Lopez family sold by state-run Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) at a discount.

 

The hearing picked up from last month’s proceedings with House blue ribbon chair Michael Edgar Aglipay of Diwa party-list apologizing to President Rodrigo Duterte for suspending the hearings for 1 month because documents related to the Lopez loans are not available, all because the subject loans were already sold to another bank way back in 2006.

 

Aglipay was visibly irked. “I’m also doubting whether their compliance is staggered. It’s a very sad fact that we have to undergo this process because documents are given to us in piecemeal,” he said in the hearing.

 

 

 

 

 

CHR: INITIAL PROBE SHOWS 'RESCUED' LUMAD KIDS NOT KIDNAPPED, INDOCTRINATED

 

 

 

MANILA - The Commission on Human Rights in Central Visayas said Thursday that indigenous students who were supposedly rescued from a university in Cebu City were not kidnapped or indoctrinated with communist teaching, according to preliminary findings.

 

"If based on what we have gathered from the interviews with the students, there was no force or intimidation they were taken against their will, an element in kidnapping," CHR 7 chief investigator Leo Villarino told ANC.

 

The students, who stayed at a retreat house inside the University of San Carlos, were not indoctrinated to join the communist movement, the agency also found.

 

"Well, if I have to base my statement now on the pronouncement of the social worker who is in charge with these lumad children, the social worker says there was none. There was no indoctrination," Villarino said.

 

The agency has launched an investigation into the supposed rescue operation of 19 students, who are members of an indigenous people’s group in Davao del Norte.

 

Police have arrested 7 people, including 2 teachers and 2 village chiefs, for alleged kidnapping and serious illegal detention.

 

"We are not looking into the political ideology or beliefs of these children and of those arrested. It is personal to them," Villarino said.

 

 

 

 

 

GROUP SEEKS CHR PROBE INTO DEATH OF INFANT CHILD OF POLITICAL PRISONER MOM

 

 

 

MANILA — Advocacy group Kapatid on Thursday called on the Commission on Human Rights to look into death of barely a month-old Baby Carlen who, like Baby River, was separated from detainee mother Nona Espinosa.

 

Citing reports from local rights groups in Negros Oriental, Kapatid said Baby Carlen died on Sunday, February 14. The baby, born with a cleft palate, died “of an infection in the lungs and blood after being hospitalized for a few days because of low hemoglobin count,” the group said.

 

Fides Lim, Kapatid spokesperson, said: “We ask the [CHR] to investigate what happened and to likewise look into the conditions of pregnant prisoners and if the government is complying with the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-Custodial Measures for Women Offenders (otherwise known as the Bangkok Rules).”

 

The Bangkok Rules holds “decisions to allow children to stay with their mothers in prison shall be based on the best interests of the children.”

 

Baby Carlen's death happened mere months from Baby River’s tragic death. Like Baby River, Baby Carlen was also separated from her mother. Baby Carlen had an even shorter time with her mother, as they were separated merely three days from birth.

 

 

 

 

 

VACCINE MANUFACTURERS WANT INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENTS

 

 

 

Vaccine Czar Secretary Carlito Galvez says vaccine manufacturers want an indemnification agreement, citing the previous issue with Dengvaxia.

 

Galvez reports that the government is working on such an agreement with Pfizer and AstraZeneca.

 

An indemnification agreement "holds a business or company harmless" in case of unexpected adverse events.

 

 

 

 

 

THE REST

 

========

 

 

 

 

 

FEBRUARY 17 COVID TALLY

 

 

 

The Philippines' coronavirus count climbs to 553,424 with 1,184  additional cases reported Wednesday. Of the confirmed cases, 29,814 are active.

 

The country's death toll is at 11,577 with 53 new deaths while the total of survivors is at 512,033 with 271 more recoveries.

 

As of Wednesday, the Philippines has a total of 553,424 COVID-19 cases. Of this number, 11,577 have died, 512,033 have recovered, and 29,814 are active cases.

 

 

 

 

 

CEBU CITY, OTHER CITIES IN CEBU PROVINCE REMAIN COVID-19 HOTSPOTS, RESEARCH GROUP SAYS

 

 

 

MANILA — The OCTA Research Group on Wednesday said Cebu City, as well as other cities in Cebu province, are still COVID-19 hotspots with increasing new cases.

 

In its latest report, OCTA Research said Cebu City had the most number of new cases daily at 202, or an increase of 62 percent from the previous week.

 

Cebu City also had a 2-week daily attack rate of 16.60 per 100,000, which is considered high according to guidelines released by the Department of Health.

 

“The positivity rate in Cebu City increased to 13%, while hospital bed occupancy was 49%, below the 70% critical level recommended by DOH,” the OCTA Group said in its February 17 report.

 

Aside from Cebu City, other cities in Cebu province also had increases in their new COVID-19 cases, with Mandaue now at the high-risk classification with a two-week daily attack rate of 7.48 per 100,000, and a positivity rate of 18 percent.

 

Lapu-Lapu is also moving closer to the high-risk classification with a two-week attack rate of 6.72 per 100,000. Hospital occupancy in the city already exceeded the 70 percent critical level, OCTA Research added.

 

Talisay, on the other hand, now has a daily attack rate of 6.87 per 100,000, a positivity rate of 13 percent and hospital occupancy of 83 percent, which is above the 70 percent critical threshold.

 

 

 

 

 

INCREASE IN NEW CASES IN KALINGA

 

 

 

OCTA Research also said new COVID-19 cases continued a two-week rise in Tabuk, Kalinga, pushing its daily average to 26, with a two-week daily attack rate of 20.88 per 100,000, and a positivity rate of 13 percent.

 

Baguio City, on the other hand, showed a decrease in new cases. Even with a high positivity rate of 13 percent, the city's two-week daily attack rate decreased below 7 per 100,000.

 

In Mindanao, Cagayan de Oro City had a two-week rise in new cases, although at a slower trend compared to the cities in Central Visayas.

 

Even with a positivity rate above 10 percent, the attack rate and hospital occupancy in Cagayan de Oro City remained moderate.

 

"The pandemic in Cagayan de Oro is not yet of major concern," the group said.

 

 

 

 

 

NEW CASES INCREASING IN NAVOTAS

 

 

 

While the situation in the National Capital Region remained flat, OCTA Research noted an increase in new cases in Navotas, which had 20 new COVID-19 cases per day over the current week, up from 3 over the previous week.

 

Manila and Pasay also had slight increases in new cases, but both cities have low positivity rates and low hospital occupancy.

 

According to OCTA Research, while the situation in NCR is "manageable", it warned against a possible surge similar to what is happening in Cebu City if the government relaxes quarantine restrictions.

 

 

 

 

 

13 NORTH COTABATO BARANGAYS CLEARED FROM NPAS

 

 

 

KIDAPAWAN CITY — Authorities have declared 13 interior barangays in North Cotabato province liberated from occupation by the New People’s Army through inter-agency humanitarian and security interventions.

 

Gov. Nancy Catamco said Thursday the feat was confirmed by officials from the Police Regional Office-12 and the Army’s 10th Infantry Division during an online conference Wednesday.

 

The joint area clearing and validation board meeting, where other security issues besetting North Cotabato were also discussed, was facilitated jointly by Catamco, who is chairperson of the provincial peace and order council, and key regional police and military officials.

 

Catamco said residents of Bituan, Banayal, Nabundasan, Tuburan, Magbok and Daig in Tulunan, and in Santa Felomina, Santo Niño, Luayon, Malasila, Cabilao, Malungon and Malabuan, all in Makilala, will no longer be trapped in any crossfire between NPAs and pursuing state security forces.

 

“We ought to thank all sectors who helped us achieve this,” Catamco said.

 

 

 

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

 

 

 

 

 

'NO EDITING': SHARON CUNETA SHOWS OFF FIT FIGURE

 

 

 

MANILA -- Showbiz veteran Sharon Cuneta wowed her fans and fellow celebrities as she flaunted her slimmer figure.

 

In her Instagram post on Wednesday night, Cuneta showed her fit body in a long-sleeved shirt and black pants.

 

"Just got home from work. Thank You, Lord for a wonderful taping day!" Cuneta wrote in the caption, which also used the hashtag #noeditinghuwaw.

 

In the comment section of her post, Cuneta's friends from showbiz praised her weight loss.

 

Alex Gonzaga wrote: "Sexy!!!!!."

 

"Beautiful," Mariel Rodriguez-Padilla wrote.

 

Ara Mina wrote: "That’s my Ate. So sexy na."

 

"Looking great mama!!!," Jackielou Blanco shared.

 

Pops Fernandez added: "You look great."

 

Just last January, Cuneta took to social media to proudly show off her slimmer figure as she posed in her swimsuit following a dip in the pool.

 

“I haven’t been a 10 in many years. My normal size when I was thin was 6 or 8 and I would panic na 'pag 8! Now to get to size 6 means I need to lose the last 20 lbs,” Cuneta wrote on Instagram.

 

After so many years of trying to get rid of her extra weight, Cuneta believes that losing another 20 lbs “does not seem like too much work anymore.”

 

Cuneta is currently taping for the upcoming season of ABS-CBN's "Your Face Sounds Familiar."

 

Cuneta, Gary Valenciano and Ogie Alcasid are set to return as judges of “Your Face Sounds Familiar,” which will air its fresh season later this month.

 

The 10 celebrities competing in the new season are Geneva Cruz, Jhong Hilario, Klarisse de Guzman, Christian Bables, CJ Navato, Vivoree Esclito, Lie Reposposa, and iDolls trio Lucas Garcia, Matty Juniosa, and Enzo Almario.

 

 

 

 

 

SPORTS

 

 

 

 

 

NBA SCORES FEB 16

 

 

 

FINAL

 

           1          2          3          4          T

 

Nuggets  15-12 26        28        21        24        99

 

Celtics  14-13    30        29        27        26        112

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            N. Jokic DEN

 

43 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST

 

            J. Brown BOS

 

27 PTS, 5 REB, 5 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

           1          2          3          4          T

 

Raptors  13-15  33        31        30        30        124

 

Bucks  16-12     33        31        27        22        113

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            F. VanVleet TOR

 

33 PTS, 4 REB, 7 AST

 

            G. Antetokounmpo MIL

 

34 PTS, 10 REB, 8 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

           1          2          3          4          T

 

Pelicans  12-15 29        34        38        43        144

 

Grizzlies  11-12 32        26        23        32        113

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            Z. Williamson NO

 

31 PTS, 7 REB, 6 AST

 

            J. Morant MEM

 

28 PTS, 7 REB, 8 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

           1          2          3          4          T

 

Trail Blazers  17-10       34        30        29        22        115

 

Thunder  11-16 21        29        29        25        104

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            D. Lillard POR

 

31 PTS, 7 REB, 10 AST

 

            L. Dort OKC

 

23 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

           1          2          3          4          T

 

Lakers  22-7      30        27        29        26        112

 

Timberwolves  7-21       27        29        28        20        104

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            L. James LAL

 

30 PTS, 13 REB, 7 AST

 

            A. Edwards MIN

 

28 PTS, 7 REB, 5 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

           1          2          3          4          T

 

Nets  18-12       22        32        34        40        128

 

Suns  17-10      33        42        25        24        124

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            J. Harden BKN

 

38 PTS, 7 REB, 11 AST

 

            C. Paul PHO

 

29 PTS, 4 REB, 7 AST

 

 

 

 

 

INDICATORS

 

 

 

FOREX $1 = P 48.38

 

 

 

 

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

 

 

 

Giving opens the way for receiving. - Florence Scovel Shinn