'EDSA REVOLUTION IS NOT OVER': RAMOS SAYS FILIPINOS MUST 'WORK' TO ENJOY FREEDOM, RIGHTS

 

 

 

MANILA - Former President Fidel V. Ramos on Thursday said the spirit of the EDSA People Power revolution "is not over" 35 years after it toppled authoritarian rule in the Philippines.

 

Filipinos have to continuously "work" to "enjoy the freedoms and rights embodied in our Constitution," said Ramos, who was a key personality in the 1986 bloodless revolt that ousted dictator Ferdinand Marcos.

 

"The revolution is not over and the work remains unfinished until every Filipino enjoys the freedoms and rights embodied in our Constitution, our democracy secure, and we regain our seat in the community of nations," Ramos said in a statement made public on the 35th Anniversary of the EDSA People Power.

 

"Our nation's destiny remains uncertain, but her history is evidence that we always succeed in achieving our shared aspirations when we work together," he added.

 

The former president did not elaborate on why some Filipinos have yet to enjoy their freedoms and why he thought the Philippines has already lost its place as Asia's "beacon of hope, the pride of our race, the muse of the community of nations."

 

"This [EDSA Revolution] was our opportunity to make things right, to do things right, for what we hold in our hearts is true and just," Ramos said.

 

"The challenge we face now is to keep ablaze the flame of nationalism and continue to embody the unparalleled spirit of the People Power Revolution," he added.

 

Ramos - a former military general - left Marcos and sided with Corazon Aquino, who was catapulted to the presidency after the assassination of her husband, opposition senator Benigno Aquino Jr.

 

The military general eventually won as president and succeeded Mrs. Aquino in 1992.

 

In 2017, Ramos - who was known as one of President Rodrigo Duterte's mentors - urged the current administration to establish an EDSA Learning Center at the back of the People Power Monument to educate young Filipinos about the relevance of the historic peaceful revolution.

 

The former president's suggestion did not materialize after Duterte - whose 2016 presidential campaign was backed by the Marcos family - began downscaling the annual commemoration of EDSA People Power.

 

 

 

 

 

DEATH TOLL IN PNP-PDEA SHOOTOUT RISES TO 4

 

 

 

MANILA — The death count in the shootout between police and anti-narcotics operatives in Quezon City on Wednesday has risen to 4, with an agent and informant of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency also confirmed killed on top of two police officers earlier reported dead.

 

PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva confirmed this Thursday in a joint press conference with the PNP, where questions on how the gunfight happened remained unanswered.

 

Villanueva vowed his agency's cooperation in the investigation regarding the incident.

 

"What happened... last night, 'yan ang main focus ng ating inquiry at dito tayo medyo careful dahil gusto natin talaga makuha ang nangyari," he said.

 

Police Chief Gen. Debold Sinas, meanwhile, said those involved in the shootout would be held accountable.

 

The shootout on Wednesday night happened near a mall Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, sending people scampering for safety while halting traffic on the busy thoroughfare.

 

The Department of Justice earlier ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a parallel investigation on the supposed "misencounter" between police and anti-narcotics agents.

 

As to ties between the two agencies in the wake of the encounter, Villanueva said the two organizations are now closer.

 

"As far as relationship of PNP and PDEA is concerned, ladies and gentlemen, mas lumakas po kami. Mas naging dikit po kami ngayon. Dahil dati hindi kami nag-uusap, ngayon sobrang pag-uusap namin," he said.

 

Malacañang said President Rodrigo Duterte has vowed justice for those killed in the shootout, which involved two organizations leading his anti-drug campaign.

 

Sinimulan na ng National Bureau of Investigation ang kanilang parallel investigation sa umano'y misencounter sa pagitan ng Philippine National Police at Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency sa Quezon City kung saan nasawi ang 4 katao.

 

Dumating Huwebes ng gabi ang mga tauhan ng NBI sa Commonwealth Ave. kung saan nangyari ang barilan pero hindi pa sila nagbigay ng pahayag sa kanilang ginagawang imbestigasyon.

 

Apat katao ang nasawi sa engkuwentro Miyerkoles ng gabi, kabilang ang 2 pulis, ahente at informant ng PDEA.

 

Pinabulaanan naman ng PDEA nagkaroon ng "sell-bust." Ito ay pagkukunwari na nagbebenta ng droga para mang-target ng mga tao na namimili ng ilegal na droga.

 

Humihingi ngayon ang NBI ng sapat na oras para mas masuri ang mga ebidensiya sa insidente. Bumuo na sila ng joint board of inquiry para imbestigahan ito.

 

Magpapatawag naman ng inquiry ang Kongreso para maging malinaw sa lahat kung bakit nagkakaroon ng misencounter.

 

 

 

 

 

EXPECT 2022 POLLS TO BE 'MORE MESSY,' DIRTIER AS COVID-19 PANDEMIC PERSISTS, SAYS EXPERT

 

 

 

MANILA - Vote buying and the proliferation of fake news are expected to worsen in the 2022 national elections as the Philippines elects new leaders against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, a political science expert said Wednesday.

 

Policies on keeping distance between individuals and other pandemic-related protocol during campaigns and election day push political operators to be "more subtle" in handing out bribes, Arjan Aguirre, a Political Science professor from the Ateneo de Manila University, said in an online forum.

 

"We are under this pandemic so people will still go out to vote, but the vote buying will be more subtle and more widespread," he said.

 

"It's not gonna be more visible," he said.

 

Smear campaigns may also gain traction online as some candidates will be forced to allocate more funds in cyber operations with voters still confined indoors because of the pandemic, he said.

 

"Itong fake news na ito mas magiging intense pa ito dahil dadaloy ang pera," Aguirre said.

 

"Mas maraming online engagements [ngayong pandemic], mas maraming PR firms ang mag-e-emerge to work so mas madumi siya, mas messy," he said.

 

Aguirre said institutions should "step up" to counter disinformation as the Philippines braces for the campaign and election season under a new normal.

 

 

 

 

 

LOCSIN: NO ONE ASKED FOR ‘NURSE FOR VACCINES’ TRADE

 

 

 

MANILA — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. clarified yesterday that the Philippines was not bartering Filipino health care workers for COVID-19 vaccines with the United Kingdom or Germany.

 

“No one is asking for a trade. Just a way of saying our relationship is beneficial coming and going,” Locsin tweeted.

 

“Our new nurses’ future experience in pandemic UK will be the core of our future response to the next pandemic. We were spared SARS so COVID took us by surprise,” he added.

 

Earlier, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) was reported to have proposed to deploy more nurses to the UK and Germany with the hope of securing some 600,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines for the Philippines.

 

Last Wednesday, British Ambassador Daniel Pruce said the UK had no plans to link the Philippines’ procurement of vaccines to the deployment of Filipino nurses and other health care workers to the UK.

 

 

 

 

 

MORE CUSTOMERS TO ENJOY 4G LTE SERVICES IN SELECT PROVINCES NEXT MONTH: GLOBE

 

 

 

MANILA - Globe Telecom said Friday more customers would enjoy improved services in Pampanga, Batangas, Laguna and parts of Cavite next month following an aggressive network modernization that upgraded services to 4G LTE.

 

Having 4G LTE means subscribers can experience improved calls, SMS and data browsing services, the Ayala-led telco said in a statement.

 

Globe said the 4G LTE network technology enables 4G compatible phones to connect to the internet faster and smoother. With 4G LTE, subscribers can download content and stream "within seconds and is free of buffering," it said.

 

“Our current target to fast-track our 4G LTE and 5G network builds are meant to give our customers more opportunities to make the most of the new standard in mobile data," said Joel Agustin, Globe's senior vice president for Program Delivery, Network Technical said.

 

Agustin said it's time for customers to go beyond 3G, calling 4G "the new normal."

 

Globe said the goal is the make the technology "available to all Filipinos soon." Customers are also advised to replace 3G SIM cards to 5G-ready 4G LTE SIM cards.

 

 

 

 

 

FILIPINOS IN US ADVISED TO EXERCISE CAUTION AS HATE CRIMES VS ASIANS RISE

 

 

 

MANILA — The Philippine Embassy in Washington urged Filipinos in the United States to exercise “utmost caution” amid a wave of assaults against Asian Americans in various parts of the country.

 

In a statement, the embassy said it notes “with concern” the rising number of attacks against Asian Americans.

 

“Filipinos are advised to exercise utmost caution in view of these incidents. Those who experience attacks are advised to immediately call 911 to report incidents,” it said.

 

Media outlets in the US have reported a string of recent incidents of verbal and physical assaults directed at Asians in the country as the COVID-19 rages on.

 

Early this month, a Filipino man was slashed across the face with a box cutter while riding the New York City subway.

 

The embassy and consulate generals in the US called on the federal, state and local authorities to ensure the protection of people of Asian descent, including Filipinos.

 

Between March 19, 2020 and Dec. 31, 2020, the Stop AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) Hate received 2,808 accounts of anti-Asian hate from 47 states and the District of Columbia.

 

Of these attacks, 70.9% were incidents of verbal harassment, shunning or avoidance comprised 21.4%. Meanwhile, physical assaults made up 8.7% of the incidents, while coughing or spitting comprised 6.4%.

 

“We are outraged by the disturbing incidents we’ve seen this past week where Asian American elders have been attacked in the San Francisco Bay Area. These violent assaults have a devastating impact on our community as they are part of an alarming rise in anti-Asian American hate during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Stop AAPI Hate said in a statement on February 9.

 

 

 

 

 

THE REST

 

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PHILIPPINES LOGS 2,269 NEW COVID-19 CASES; DEATHS TOP 12,200

 

 

 

MANILA — Coronavirus infections in the Philippines climbed to 568,680 on Thursday after the Department of Health (DOH) reported 2,269 new COVID-19 cases, the second highest single-day tally for 2021.

 

The additional cases do not include data from 3 laboratories that failed to submit results on time.

 

On Monday, the DOH logged 2,288 new confirmed cases, the highest so far this year and since early November.

 

The death toll, meanwhile, climbed by 72 to 12,201, accounting for 2.15 percent of the cumulative total.

 

There are also 738 new recovered patients or a total of 524,042 recoveries.

 

Active cases in the country stood at 32,437 or 5.7 percent of the cumulative total.

 

The country expects to receive its first supply of COVID-19 vaccine on Sunday, courtesy of Sinovac from China, following a number of delays due to what officials say as some additional requirements.

 

The Philippines' drug regulator has granted emergency use authorization for the COVID-19 vaccines of Sinovac, Pfizer, AstraZeneca.

 

 

 

 

 

TINATAYANG P9M HALAGA NG PEKENG SIGARILYO, NASABAT SA BATAAN

 

 

 

Isang truck na may kargang kahon-kahon ng pekeng sigarilyo na tinatayang nagkakahalaga ng P9 milyon ang nasabat ng awtoridad sa bayan ng Limay sa Bataan nitong Miyerkoles.

 

Nasabat sa checkpoint ng 2nd Provincial Mobile Force Company at ng Limay Municipal Police Station, kasama ang kinatawan ng Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp., Japan Tobacco Inc. ang trailer truck sa Roman Highway, Barangay Alangan.

 

Nasa 460 master cases ng Marvels, D&B, Mithy and Tomon cigarettes ang nasa loob ng truck.

 

Inaresto rin ng awtoridad ang tatlong sakay ng truck.

 

Walang maipakitang dokumento ang 3 para sa kargamento nilang sigarilyo.

 

Kinumpiska na ang truck, maging ang mga pekeng sigarilyo, at kinasuhan na rin ng paglabag sa Republic Act 8293 o Intellectual Property Rights ang mga nahuli.

 

 

 

 

 

ISKO BACKS 'FAMILY DAY' IN MANILA'S TOURIST SPOTS

 

 

 

MANILA - Manila Mayor Isko Moreno on Friday said he supports the proposal to have a one-day "family day" in the city's tourist attractions, allowing children below 15 years old to visit open spaces.

 

"Aprub! Of course, we want to support tourism, lalo na ngayon, domestic tourism, tayo-tayo lang ang nagpapasyalan. Wala tayong mga banyagang pumupunta rito," he told Teleradyo's "Sakto".

 

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat earlier proposed removing age restrictions for visitors of Intramuros, which reopened to the public on Feb. 17.

 

Metro Manila has been under GCQ since August, with stricter lockdowns enforced in earlier months amid a rise in coronavirus infections.

 

Moreno said such an activity would help re-stimulate the local economy depressed by the pandemic.

 

"Pangalawa (Second), if there's an open space as an alternative for our people to go to, hinihikayat namin 'yan, especially sa Intramuros (we encourage that), especially in Intramuros," he said.

 

Intramuros reopened its doors to tourists last week but only for those aged 15 to 65 years old.

 

"Nakapagtiyaga na tayo ng (We persevered for) 11 months. I think a few days will not harm," the city mayor added.

 

 

 

 

 

MORENO: 'BEST-CASE SCENARIO' OF ASTRAZENECA VACCINE ARRIVAL IN MANILA IS MARCH

 

 

 

MANILA - In a best-case scenario, doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine will arrive in Manila in March, city mayor Isko Moreno said Friday.

 

"In the worst-case scenario, 'yong AstraZeneca will arrive in September, a good scenario is June, a best scenario is March," he told Teleradyo's "Sakto".

 

Last week, the city government disbursed 20 percent down payment for the vaccines, amounting to P38.4 million.

 

Manila has secured 800,000 doses of anti-coronavirus jabs from the British pharmaceutical firm, which will be used to inoculate 400,000 residents.

 

Moreno reiterated he would get the COVID-19 shots in public.

 

 

 

 

 

PAGASA SEES MAINLY HOT, HUMID WEATHER ON FRIDAY

 

 

 

MANILA - Hot and humid weather, especially around noon, is expected over the country on Friday due to the easterlies or warm winds from the Pacific Ocean, the state weather bureau said.

 

Easterlies have been prevailing in the country for the past days, weather specialist Ariel Rojas told Teleradyo's "Sakto".

 

Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers may still be experienced in Metro Manila and the rest of the country due to localized thunderstorms.

 

The capital region will have temperatures ranging from 23 to 33 degrees Celsius, Rojas said.

 

Temperatures may also range from 15 to 24 degrees Celsius in Baguio City, 24 to 31 degrees in Cebu City, and 25 to 32 degrees in Davao City.

 

According to the agency's monitoring, no weather disturbance may develop or affect the country until the end of February or first week of March.

 

 

 

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

 

 

 

 

 

'I'M FIRST AND FOREMOST A FILIPINA': CATRIONA GRAY IS NEW ARTS, CULTURE AMBASSADOR

 

 

 

MANILA —  In celebration of Arts Month in the Philippines, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) named Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray as its goodwill ambassador.

 

The Filipino-Australian beauty from Oas, Albay will henceforth espouse the agency's various causes related to the arts, culture and our heritage.

 

"Even before I was chosen to represent the women of the world, I always consider myself, first and foremost, a Filipina! I have always been proud of our culture, our people, and our creative spirit. And I want to learn more! Together, we can be prouder and stronger in a time when we need to be proud Filipinos," revealed Cat on her teaser video, "Kultura 101 with Catriona Gray."

 

She also invited online audiences to watch and interact at the "Padayon" forum on NCCA's social media pages.

 

 

 

 

 

OFFICIAL TITLE OF NEW SPIDER-MAN MOVIE REVEALED

 

 

 

Sony Pictures Entertainment finally revealed on Thursday the official title of the third Spider-Man movie that will come out in theaters in December.

 

In a 30-second clip it uploaded on YouTube, lead actor Tom Holland is seen coming out of the office of returning Spider-Man director Jon Watts.

 

He then rants to his co-stars Zendaya and Jacob Batalon about being given another fake name for the movie again.

 

“I just don’t understand why he keeps doing this,” he said.

 

Not surprised by the situation, Batalon told Holland that this is what they get because “it’s pretty obvious that you spoil things.”

 

Chiding Holland, Zendaya said: “It’s kind of your thing. Your thing is to spoil things.

 

Unconvinced by the two’s accusations, Holland said: “Name me one thing I’ve actually spoiled?”

 

It was at that moment that it was revealed that the movie’s title is officially “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”

 

The title reveal came after Holland, Zendaya and Batalon threw fans of the movie off with three fake ones on Wednesday.

 

 

 

 

 

SPORTS

 

 

 

 

 

NBA SCORES FEB 24

 

 

 

FINAL

 

           1          2          3          4          T

 

Warriors  18-15 25        31        28        27        111

 

Pacers  15-15   22        36        22        27        107

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            S. Curry GS

 

24 PTS, 8 REB, 8 AST

 

            M. Brogdon IND

 

24 PTS, 3 REB, 3 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

           1          2          3          4          T

 

Celtics  15-17    27        22        29        34        112

 

Hawks  14-18    40        32        27        28        127

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            J. Brown BOS

 

17 PTS, 4 REB, 5 AST

 

            D. Gallinari ATL

 

38 PTS, 6 REB, 2 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

           1          2          3          4          T

 

Rockets  11-19  17        33        24        22        96

 

Cavaliers  12-21            27        21        34        30        112

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            J. Wall HOU

 

20 PTS, 1 REB, 3 AST

 

            J. Allen CLE

 

26 PTS, 18 REB, 2 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

           1          2          3          4          T

 

Raptors  16-17  35        21        29        23        108

 

Heat  15-17       32        34        26        24        116

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            F. VanVleet TOR

 

24 PTS, 4 REB, 7 AST

 

            J. Butler MIA

 

27 PTS, 8 REB, 10 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

           1          2          3          4          T

 

Pistons  9-23     39        30        27        22        118

 

Pelicans  14-17 33        31        32        32        128

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            J. Jackson DET

 

25 PTS, 6 REB, 3 AST

 

            Z. Williamson NO

 

32 PTS, 6 REB, 5 AST

 

 

 

FINAL/OT

 

           1          2          3          4          OT       T

 

Timberwolves  7-26       34        24        32        29        7          126

 

Bulls  15-16       32        36        28        23        14        133

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            M. Beasley MIN

 

25 PTS, 2 REB, 1 AST

 

            Z. LaVine CHI

 

35 PTS, 2 REB, 2 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

           1          2          3          4          T

 

Spurs  16-12     21        24        28        26        99

 

Thunder  13-19 28        12        36        26        102

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            D. Murray SA

 

27 PTS, 9 REB, 6 AST

 

            S. Gilgeous-Alexander OKC

 

42 PTS, 8 REB, 4 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

           1          2          3          4          T

 

Hornets  15-16  34        32        31        27        124

 

Suns  20-11      38        29        24        30        121

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            M. Monk CHA

 

29 PTS, 2 REB, 3 AST

 

            D. Booker PHO

 

33 PTS, 0 REB, 3 AST

 

 

 

FINAL

 

           1          2          3          4          T

 

Lakers  22-11    23        24        17        25        89

 

Jazz  26-6         24        39        27        24        114

 

SCORING LEADERS

 

            L. James LAL

 

19 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST

 

            J. Clarkson UTA

 

18 PTS, 4 REB, 2 AST

 

 

 

 

 

INDICATORS

 

 

 

FOREX $1 = P 48.60

 

 

 

 

 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

 

 

 

Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out." -- Vaclav Havel