MORE THAN 3.3 MILLION DEAD, 159 MILLION INFECTED WITH COVID-19 WORLDWIDE
The novel coronavirus has killed at least 3,319,512 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1000 GMT (6 p.m. Philippine time) on Wednesday.
At least 159,593,520 cases of coronavirus have been registered. The vast majority have recovered, though some have continued to experience symptoms weeks or even months later.
These figures are based on daily tolls provided by health authorities in each country and exclude later re-evaluations by statistical organizations, as has happened in Russia, Spain and Britain.
On Tuesday, 13,475 new deaths and 748,719 new cases were recorded worldwide.
Based on latest reports, the countries with the most new deaths were India with 4,205 new deaths, followed by Brazil with 2,311 and the United States with 658.
The United States is the worst-affected country with 582,848 deaths from 32,779,153 cases.
After the US, the hardest-hit countries are Brazil with 425,540 deaths from 15,282,705 cases, India with 254,197 deaths from 23,340,938 cases, Mexico with 219,323 deaths from 2,368,393 cases, and the United Kingdom with 127,629 deaths from 4,439,691 cases.
Europe overall has 1,098,811 deaths from 51,795,679 cases, Latin America and the Caribbean 961,839 deaths from 30,153,927 infections, and the United States and Canada 607,554 deaths from 34,076,230 cases.
Asia has reported 389,327 deaths from 30,731,056 cases, the Middle East 135,867 deaths from 8,139,990 cases, Africa 125,045 deaths from 4,651,749 cases, and Oceania 1,069 deaths from 44,892 cases.
DFA TO FILE NEW PROTEST OVER CHINESE SHIPS SEEN ACROSS WEST PHILIPPINE SEA
MANILA — Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Thursday ordered the filing of another diplomatic protest with Beijing over a fresh report of 287 Chinese militia ships spotted across the West Philippine Sea.
The National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea reported on Wednesday that the vessels were seen near islands both within and outside the country's exclusive economic zone.
Locsin made the announcement on his Twitter account but also said that the NTF should explain why it came out with a press release but failed to inform the DFA of the sightings.
"Maybe these idiots will have learned the protocol next time," he wrote. "We have a disease: everybody and his uncle wants to be a hero fighting China from the anonymity of a task force."
The country's top diplomat added that he has brought up the matter with President Rodrigo Duterte.
ANTI-TERRORISM COUNCIL DESIGNATES 19 ALLEGED CPP-NPA LEADERS, 10 OTHERS AS 'TERRORISTS'
MANILA — The Anti-Terrorism Council has designated 19 alleged leaders of the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army as “terrorists,” based on a resolution published in newspapers Thursday.
Ten other members of different “local terrorist groups” who are allegedly members of the Abu Sayyaf Group were also listed in a separate resolution.
National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr. on Wednesday said the ATC has identified individuals it is designating as “terrorists.”
Without citing evidence or bases for the designation, the ATC said it found probable cause based on “verified and validated information” that the 19 alleged CPP-NPA leaders were involved in “planning, preparing, facilitating, conspiring, and inciting the commission of terrorism and recruitment to and membership in a terrorist organization or a group organized for the purpose of terrorism.”
These acts are covered by sections 6 to 10 of the Anti-Terrorism Act.
The ATC resolution dated April 21 described the 19 individuals as “central committee members” of the CPP-NPA, the highest decision- and policy-making body of the CPP, which also supposedly leads and commands the NPA, “its main weapon in attaining the Party’s goal of overthrowing the duly-elected government by seizing and consolidating political power through violent means.”
Some of these names were included in the proscription case filed by Department of Justice in 2018 before a Manila court against the CPP-NPA under the Human Security Act.
The list of 461 names and 188 aliases submitted was only for the purpose of sending summons so that the court can gain jurisdiction over the case.
TERRORIST DESIGNATION OPENS ASSETS OF SISON, OTHERS TO AMLC SCRUTINY
MANILA — The Anti-Terrorism Council has designated 19 supposed members of the communist party's Central Committee as terrorists, a move that will allow the Anti-Money Laundering Council to look into and freeze assets believed to be used to fund terrorism.
The lists of designated persons were in two ATC resolutions made public on Thursday and includes alleged members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Philippines and New People's Army as well as "individuals affiliated with local terrorist groups."
The ATC designated the CPP-NPA as a terrorist group in December 2020. In a separate resolution, it also designated the Islamic State East Asia, Maute Group, Daulah Islamiyah "and other associated groups".
The designations on Thursday came as the Supreme Court winds down oral arguments on petitions against the Anti-Terrorism Act over concerns that it is too broad and could lead to abuse and to a clampdown on dissent and on constitutional rights.
Citing "verified and validated information", the ATC said in its Resolution No. 17 that the supposed members of the CPP's Central Committee are being designated "for planning, preparing, facilitating, conspiring, and inciting the commission of terrorism" as well as for recruiting members in terrorist organizations.
CPP founder Jose Maria Sison, who was among those designated, said he and his wife Julieta De Lima Sison "are not at all bothered by Resolution Number 17 (2021) which designates the two of us as 'terrorists'", saying the names included in the resolution "appears to be arbitrary, dubious and even contradictory or inconsistent."
JOMA SISON SHRUGS OFF TERRORIST DESIGNATION, URGES SC TO INVALIDATE ANTI-TERROR LAW
MANILA— Self-exiled communist leader Jose Maria Sison on Thursday shrugged off government's terrorist tag as he slammed as "fascist" the Anti-Terrorism Law and urged the Supreme Court to invalidate the measure.
Sison and his wife were among the 29 persons designated as "terrorists" by the Anti-Terrorism Council.
The Communist Party of the Philippines "cannot be engaged in any act of terrorism as it cannot victimize and offend the very people it relies on to achieve national and social liberation," said Sison, who has been in exile in the Netherlands for over 30 years.
"It is utterly wrong to misrepresent acts of a revolutionary movement as a case of common crime. This is a violation of international legal standards and the Manila government’s own Hernandez political offense doctrine, which recognize the social roots of rebellion, the nobility of its motives and purpose, and keep open the possibility of peaceful resolution of the armed conflict," he said in a statement.
"It will be faithful to its own distinct role in government if the Supreme Court will invalidate the Anti-Terrorism Law as instruments of fascism and state terrorism because of its massacre of basic human rights and democratic principles."
The ATC and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) are "wantonly engaged in red-tagging and making up lists of 'communist terrorists,' depriving suspects of their rights, usurping judicial authority and castrating the judiciary," Sison added.
Sison said he and his wife were "not at all bothered" by the council's move as political consultants of the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) are entitled to the protection of the Joint Agreement of Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) and "other binding bilateral agreements."
"The list of names in the designation appears to be arbitrary, dubious and even contradictory or inconsistent with the various public and purportedly personal statements even of its own NTF-ELCAC evil minions," he said.
VP SPOX: NOT TRUE ROBREDO RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR OF CAMSUR NEXT YEAR
MANILA - The spokesperson of Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday said there is "no truth" to reports she is preparing to run for Governor of Camarines Sur, her home province, as she supposedly has not decided anything yet for next year's general elections.
In a statement, lawyer Barry Gutierrez said Robredo is focused on helping Filipinos affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
"She has not made a decision regarding the 2022 elections, and there is absolutely no truth to the claim that she is making 'preparations' to run for governor of Camarines Sur," said Gutierrez.
Robredo's camp issued the statement after former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV earlier in the day said he is eyeing to replace Robredo as the presidential bet of opposition coalition 1SAMBAYAN in the 2022 elections.
His decision was made, according to him, "in view of VP Leni's preparations to run for Governor of Camarines Sur in 2022."
Even as he denied Trillanes' statement, Gutierrez said Robredo "remains open to all options, including a possible candidacy for President."
"At the appropriate time, she will personally convey her decision on this matter," said Gutierrez.
But with the pandemic still present, "this is not a time for politicking but for working for the people's welfare," he added.
TIGHTER SCREENING EYED FOR MIDDLE EAST TRAVELERS
MANILA — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III will recommend stricter border controls for travelers from the Middle East after the Indian variant or B1617 was detected in two Filipino seafarers who arrived from Oman and United Arab Emirates (UAE) last month.
“I will recommend that certainly. Rest assured I will make the recommendation,” Duque said yesterday, noting that he is in touch with World Health Organization (WHO) country representative Rabindra Abeyasinghe.
Members of the Department of Health-Technical Working Group on New Variants of COVID-19 believe that the new testing and quarantine protocols for inbound travelers could help minimize the entry of variants into the country.
Based on current protocols, travelers are sent to a facility for 10-day quarantine, to be swabbed on the seventh day. If negative, they will be released after the 10th day but should complete the last four days of quarantine in their local government units.
“I am confident that the changes that we made to our quarantine polices are going to help us decrease the chances of the variant to come in,” infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvana said.
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1 PERCENT OF 7M: PH FIRMS TO GET 70,000 MODERNA VACCINES BY JUNE - RAZON
MANILA - Port magnate Enrique Razon on Thursday said the private sector would receive some 70,000 COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna next month, which account for only 1 percent of the total 7 million vaccines conglomerates have ordered from the pharmaceutical giant.
Moderna said the vaccines would arrive by the week of June 21, Razon told ANC's Headstart.
"As soon as it arrives, we want to start inoculation right away," he said.
The private sector has already paid $93 million (P4.45 billion) for these vaccines, he said.
"The government will have to pay more because the government's order is 13 million [jabs]," he said.
The Philippines earlier allowed private firms to enter into a tripartite agreement so that they could procure vaccines for their respective employees.
Last month, National Task Force Against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. said that the Philippines would get 194,000 doses of Moderna's jab this month.
Razon did not say why the number of initial doses from Moderna was reduced, and why the delivery date was pushed back.
Razon, whose group is building a mega vaccination hub in Parañaque, said he hopes to procure more vaccines by the end of the year.
DIOKNO, CALIDA HIGHEST PAID GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IN 2020
MANILA — Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno and Solicitor General Jose Calida were the highest paid government officials last year, the Commission on Audit (COA) reported yesterday.
Based on COA’s “2020 report on salaries and allowances” of government officials, Calida’s slightly lower net pay of P15.66 million from P16.95 million in 2019 was still enough to keep him in second place on the list.
From third spot in 2019, Diokno rose to first with a net pay of P19.79 million from P15.45 million.
The highest paid official in 2019, United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB) board member Higinio Macadaeg Jr., slipped to ninth spot in 2020, with a net pay of P13.22
million from P20.48.
Macadaeg resigned as UCPB president and chief executive officer in July 2019, citing “personal reasons.”
Third in the list was UCPB executive vice president and group head Eulogio Catabran III with net pay of P15.46 million from P15.10 million or fourth spot in 2019.
A total of 8,737 officials from 994 national government agencies, government-owned and controlled corporations, state universities and colleges and water districts were included in COA’s 2020 report on salaries and allowances.
The net pay includes basic salaries, allowances and other emoluments received by each official.
Excluded in the COA report were elected government officials such as the President, senators and congressmen.
Government Service Insurance System president and general manager Rolando Macasaet landed fourth with a total of P15.26 million from P7.97 million in 2019, wherein he was 51st on the list.
Supreme Court Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe received higher pay last year amounting to P15.203 million, which landed her in fifth from P10.22 million or 16th spot in the previous year.
SIGNAL NO.1 RAISED, AS LPA OFF DAVAO NOW TROPICAL DEPRESSION CRISING
MANILA —A low-pressure area over the Philippine sea east of Davao City has developed into Tropical Depression Crising early Thursday, the state weather bureau.
The country's third storm this year is forecast to bring moderate to heavy rains over Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Sur, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, and Davao del Norte between Thursday and Friday morning, PAGASA said.
It is expected to hit land over the Surigao del Sur-Davao Oriental area between Thursday night and early Friday, said PAGASA weather forecaster Ariel Rojas.
The storm might weaken into a low pressure area after it emerges over the Sulu Sea early Saturday prior to leaving the Philippine area of responsibility on Sunday, Rojas added.
Tropical cyclone wind signal no. 1, which may slightly damage houses of very light materials or makeshift structures in exposed communities, was raised in the following areas:
Surigao del Sur
Agusan del Sur
Davao Oriental
Davao de Oro
Davao del Norte
Davao City
Crising was last estimated 405 kilometers east of Davao City at 7 a.m., moving west at 10 km per hour while packing maximum winds of 45 kph near the center with gusts of up to 55 kph, PAGASA said in its 8 a.m. advisory.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
SAMANTHA BERNARDO 'BEYOND GRATEFUL' AS SHE RETURNS TO PH
MANILA -- After spending over two months in Thailand as the first runner-up of Miss Grand International, Samantha Bernardo is finally back home.
The Philippines' representative in the pageant is "beyond grateful" for the warmth and hospitality she has received from the Miss Grand International organization, saying she had "the best time of my life" with them.
"This is not a goodbye, just hello and see you soon!" she said in an Instagram post on Wednesday night as she shared a photo of her with Miss Grand International president Nawat Itsaragrisil.
In another post which showed her in her pre-departure outfit, Bernardo hinted: "Great things are yet to come."
Photos of Bernardo about to leave Thailand were also shared on Miss Grand International's Facebook page, with the organization "full of lovely vibes" as it sends off the Filipina beauty queen.
On Thursday morning, Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. shared a video of Bernardo addressing the national organization's founder, Stella Marquez-Araneta, as she marks her return to Manila.
"Thank you so much for all the love and support of Bb. Pilipinas headed by you, and for giving me the opportunity to represent Philippines. It's such an honor and privilege, and this is like a graduation for me in pageantry," she said.
"We've been taken care of [by] Mr. Nawat [and] Ms. Teresa, and all the MGI staff are all so kind to me. And I hope that this can mend all the conflicts in the past. And I hope the next Miss Philippines can really win the MGI crown," she added.
During her stay in Thailand, Bernardo got to mix work and play as she visited beaches, bars, and historical sites while promoting the country's tourism.
She also dropped by the Philippine Embassy in Thailand and met with members of the Filipino community there.
SPORTS
NBA SCORES MAY 11
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Nuggets45-24 38 25 28 26 117
Hornets33-36 26 34 26 26 112
SCORING LEADERS
M. Porter Jr. DEN
30 PTS 6 REB 1 AST
D. Graham CHA
31 PTS 4 REB 5 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Timberwolves22-47 30 32 24 33 119
Pistons20-50 20 20 25 35 100
SCORING LEADERS
K. Towns MIN
28 PTS 8 REB 5 AST
S. Lee DET
22 PTS 4 REB 5 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Clippers46-23 27 33 25 30 115
Raptors27-42 19 33 19 25 96
SCORING LEADERS
T. Mann LAC
20 PTS 1 REB 2 AST
C. Boucher TOR
16 PTS 7 REB
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Heat38-31 28 34 31 36 129
Celtics35-34 28 28 23 42 121
SCORING LEADERS
T. Herro MIA
24 PTS 11 REB 3 AST
K. Walker BOS
36 PTS 7 REB 4 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Nets45-24 32 32 29 22 115
Bulls29-40 23 28 23 33 107
SCORING LEADERS
K. Durant BKN
21 PTS 4 REB 8 AST
Z. LaVine CHI
41 PTS 3 REB 1 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Mavericks40-29 27 30 25 22 104
Grizzlies36-33 28 32 36 37 133
SCORING LEADERS
T. Hardaway Jr. DAL
19 PTS 5 REB 2 AST
J. Morant MEM
24 PTS 7 REB 8 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
76ers47-22 33 29 13 19 94
Pacers33-36 26 25 24 28 103
SCORING LEADERS
T. Harris PHI
27 PTS 5 REB 3 AST
C. LeVert IND
24 PTS 7 REB 5 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Magic21-48 22 26 23 31 102
Bucks44-25 29 30 20 35 114
SCORING LEADERS
C. Anthony ORL
18 PTS 4 REBG. Antetokounmpo MIL
27 PTS 12 REB 5 AST
FINAL/OT
1 2 3 4 OT T
Knicks38-31 25 31 20 15 8 99
Lakers39-30 24 31 18 18 10 101
SCORING LEADERS
J. Randle NY
31 PTS 8 REB 5 AST
K. Kuzma LAL
23 PTS 3 REB
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Thunder21-49 32 33 18 23 106
Kings31-38 27 35 41 19 122
SCORING LEADERS
K. Williams OKC
20 PTS 2 REB 4 AST
T. Davis SAC
27 PTS 5 REB 3 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Suns48-21 38 28 32 18 116
Warriors37-33 29 29 34 30 122
SCORING LEADERS
D. Booker PHO
34 PTS 7 REB 4 AST
A. Wiggins GS
38 PTS 7 REB 3 AST
INDICATORS
FOREX $1 = P 47.81
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
We can spend our lives either avoiding fear or embracing it. - Seth Godin
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