DUTERTE 'APPALLED' BY KILLINGS IN NEGROS ORIENTAL: SPOKESMAN

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte is appalled by a recent string of killings in Negros Oriental, where he had a visit this week, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

Duterte met with the regional peace and order council in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental on Monday about the killings, said his spokesman Harry Roque.

"Nagparating po ng mensahe ang ating Presidente that he is 'appalled' doon sa mga patayan na nangyayari sa Negros Oriental," he said in a press briefing.

"Ang sinabi po ng Presidente is he will be completely neutral. Pero gagampanan ng estado ang obligasyon na imbestigahan, litisin at parusahan ang mga tao na pumapatay sa Negros Oriental."

A media report said four supposed government "informers" were killed inside their homes in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental last May 14.

In March, at least 10 rebels were reportedly killed in a gunfight with government troops in the city.

Duterte ordered the environment department to resolve "conflicting claims to untitled lands" which are allegedly linked to the killings, said Roque.

He said the President also ordered the Department of Agrarian Reform to speed up the distribution of land to farmers, delays of which spur rebellion.

"Ang sabi po ng Presidente (our President said), everything else being equal, resolve these disputes in favor of the poor," Roque said.

PALACE: FILING PROTEST OVER CHINA SHIPS UP TO DFA

MANILA — It’s up to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to officially protest the presence of about 120 Chinese vessels particularly on the side of Tizard Bank that is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Spratlys Islands, Malacañang said yesterday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said he does not have information to confirm a report released by US-based Simularity dated April 28 showing approximately 11 ships in Julian Felipe Reef, 158 ships near McKennan (Hughes) Reef and 87 ships near Burgos (Gaven) Reef.

He said he has no idea how the National Task Force on West Philippine Sea is handling the matter. He noted that Burgos Reef is supposed to be occupied by China which reportedly uses an artificial island in the area as a military base. He presented aerial photos of the land features at a press briefing.

He said there is a need to determine if China may have overstepped its boundaries in Pag-Asa Island, over which the Philippines exercises sovereign rights.

He said what’s important is there is no disruption in the delivery of supplies to Pag-Asa and no Filipino fishermen are being prevented from dropping their nets in areas within the country’s EEZ.

“And it’s up to the DFA to determine if reports (on Chinese encroachment) are true, and if they’re true, it would be the DFA’s decision to file diplomatic protest or not,” Roque added.

LGUS TOLD: STOP VACCINE SALE

NBI given 10 days to submit report on scam

MANILA — Malacañang urged local government units (LGUs) to crack down on the “vaccine-for-sale” scheme and pass ordinances against the practice that violates equitable vaccine distribution for all Filipinos.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. also warned that those caught offering slots for a price will be held accountable.

“We are looking at the legal basis. The closest I can think of are forms of swindling because selling the slot for a price, and it can also be a violation of the Food and Drug Administration law,” Roque said, referring to the FDA’s order not to allow the commercial use of the vaccines in the country.

SELLERS OF COVID-19 VACCINATION SLOTS FACE JAIL, WARNS MMDA CHIEF

MANILA - Individuals selling COVID-19 vaccination slots will face charges and even jail time, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman Benhur Abalos said Wednesday.

"They could just talk with anyone making the schedule and if that person is part of this, it could be possible. That’s why we’re looking into this, we’re going to arrest this person. There’s one thing I will promise you: I promise you that these persons will really be charged and go to jail. We’re very serious about this," he told ANC's Headstart.

Authorities are looking into the alleged sale of COVID-19 vaccination slots in Mandaluyong City, where a customer could choose the brand available at a vaccination site.

The MMDA chief, whose wife is the mayor of Mandaluyong City, said he is coordinating with the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation to look into the allegation.

One person has so far been identified, he said, adding that the person is not an employee of city hall.

He said while it cannot be said yet if the scheme makes true of its promise to reserve slots for a fee, the ones behind it would be sued.

PALACE: 'BACK TO END OF LINE' FOR THOSE ON PRIORITY LIST BUT REFUSE AVAILABLE COVID-19 VACCINES

MANILA — Senior citizens and people with health risks who refuse to take available COVID-19 vaccines will move back to the end of the line and lose their priority slot in the inoculation drive, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

Only health workers, the top vaccination priority, were given leeway to use the vaccines they prefer, said Palace spokesman Harry Roque.

Government will not force the next top priority groups– the elderly and those with comorbities– to use available COVID-19 shots, he said.

"Pero matatapos na po iyong kaniyang prayoridad. Kumbaga, back to the end of the line. That’s only fair," Roque said in a press briefing.

Roque cited Social Weather Stations survey released this week that showed that about 39 percent of respondents prefer the coronavirus vaccine from Beijing-based Sinovac Biotech, while 32 percent most like the COVID-19 jab from US-based Pfizer.

PNP SAYS WILLING TO GIVE DOJ ACCESS TO ENTIRE DRUG WAR RECORD

MANILA - The Philippine National Police said Wednesday it is willing to give the Department of Justice access to records of all its investigations against policemen in its drug war campaign since 2016.

"As long as the DOJ requested for the availability of this, we will provide them with this information," PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar told ANC.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra earlier said his agency was granted by the police access to 61 cases where the PNP Internal Affairs Services had found administrative and criminal liability on the part of law enforcers.

However, the 61 cases constitute less than 1 percent of the more than 7,000 cases of deaths during police drug operations, based on official government figures. Human rights groups claim a much higher count.

For Eleazar, this collaboration between the DOJ and PNP is a "good step" to dispel allegations they were keeping the files secret.

"I think it's a good step to have this good collaboration between DOJ and PNP para na rin mabulaanan 'yong sinasabi na tinatago natin itong mga impormasyon (to refute allegations we are hiding them)," he said.

"Now that the President has given authority to DOJ to review these cases, we will be giving them the necessary support and cooperation in order for them to have access to this information," he added.

WHO SOLIDARITY TRIALS START IN PHILIPPINES NEXT MONTH – DOST

MANILA — The World Health Organization Solidarity Vaccine Trials (WHO SVT) that will assess the efficacy and safety of some COVID-19 vaccines may begin in the Philippines next month, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary for Research and Development Rowena Cristina Guevara said yesterday.

Guevara said the Philippines, which will fund the trials, is conducting its own preparations by readying trial sites, training health care workers and recruiting project personnel for the implementation.

“What we are doing for this vaccine clinical trials is to recruit volunteers from areas with high number of COVID-19 cases. They will undergo the protocol that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and our ethics review board,” she added.

DOST said WHO has yet to release the vaccines that will be used in the trials, as the international agency is now completing the needed documents.

Aside from upcoming WHO SVT in the country, Guevara said there are also three other trials being conducted by private companies like United States’ Johnson & Johnson and China’s Sinovac and Clover.

Guevara also disclosed that the DOST will begin a “real world” study next month to determine efficacy rates of vaccines after they have been administered to people.

MARAWI RECONSTRUCTION AT 65% COMPLETE, TASK FORCE OFFICIAL SAYS

MANILA — An official on Tuesday said the rebuilding of Marawi has reached 65% completion, four years since the siege and months before the government's target by end of the year.

Groups from Mindanao over the weekend pressed the Duterte administration to fast-track reconstruction in the war-torn city, saying promises have yet to be fulfilled and many who were displaced have not returned home.

Over a Laging Handa briefing, Housing Secretary Eduardo del Rosario sought to assure that they remain on track to finish efforts by December 2021.

"We have to take in the methodology and understand that this cannot be done in an instant, said the housing secretary who also heads the Task Force Bangon Marawi, in Filipino.

BPI AMTC LAUNCHES 2 NEW GLOBAL INVESTMENT FUNDS FOCUSED ON HEALTHCARE, TECH

MANILA - BPI Asset Management and Trust Corp said Wednesday it recently launched 2 new Unit Investment Trust Funds (UITFs) which would allow Filipinos to invest in global health care and technology stocks.

Filipinos will now have access to global firms in the health care and technology space with BPI Invest Global Health Care Feeder Fund and the BPI Invest World Technology Feeder Fund, the company said in a statement.

Investments in the new funds start at $1,000 with additional increments of $500. The new funds have no holding period but are recommended for aggressive investors who want to diversify and tap into global investments, BPI AMTC said.

The health care and technology sectors are among those that have performed well during the COVID-19 pandemic, BPI said.

Filipinos can now invest in health care firms "that are at the forefront of battling COVID-19 and are trailblazers in the medical space," it added.

“Our new BPI Invest funds seek to better position investors for future rebound by providing access to investment themes currently in the spotlight,” said BPI AMTC president Sheika Marie Tan.

“With the health care sector leading our battle against COVID-19 and the technology sector providing support as we adapt to the new normal, investors of these funds are able to capitalize on growth opportunities ahead," she added.

The BPI Invest Global Health Care Feeder Fund invests at least 90 percent of its assets in a target fund, the Wellington Global Health Care Equity Fund, it said.

Two major producers of COVID-19 vaccines, namely Pfizer Inc and AstraZeneca PLC, are among companies in the portfolio of BPI Invest Global Health Care Feeder Fund as of February 2021.

PHOENIX PETROLEUM SAYS 'NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY INTEREST' IN PNOC'S BANKED GAS

MANILA - Phoenix Petroleum said Tuesday it has "no knowledge of any interest" to buy banked gases as of May 26.

The Dennis Uy-led firm was responding to a Manila Bulletin report that said it was looking to buy some P33 billion worth of Malampaya banked gas from the Philippine National Oil Company (PNOC).

"The above statement is unconfirmed. The Company has no knowledge of any interest to purchase banked gases as of date of writing," Phoenix Petroleum said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

"Should there be any manifest interest and the board approves the same, we shall make the necessary disclosures at the appropriate time," it added.

Davao-based tycoon Uy has interests in energy and telecommunications, among others.

Uy's Udenna Corp earlier said it has bought shares in Malampaya gas fields. The PNOC, meanwhile, is a state-run oil company.

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PHILIPPINES' COVID-19 DEATHS SURPASS 20,000-MARK

MANILA — The total number of COVID-19 patients in the Philippines who succumbed to the disease crossed the 20,000-mark on Tuesday with 36 additional fatalities, as the country also recorded nearly 4,000 new infections.

The country's death toll due to the virus climbed to 20,019. Its first fatality was recorded on Feb. 1 last year - a 44-year-old Chinese man who arrived from Wuhan, China and was tagged as the Philippines' second confirmed COVID-19 case.

Tuesday's new fatalities, the lowest in over 7 weeks, according to the ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group (IRG), also included 10 cases first classified as recoveries, the Department of Health (DOH) noted.

SAN JUAN VACCINATES 30 PCT OF TARGET POPULATION FOR HERD IMMUNITY

MANILA - San Juan City has vaccinated 30 percent of its target population to reach herd immunity, Mayor Francis Zamora said Wednesday.

Vaccines are given according to the order of pre-registered residents and their priority category, the mayor said as he reiterated that there was no selling of inoculation slots or COVID-19 jabs in the city.

Only pre-registered residents are also allowed in vaccination sites, he added.

"This is an online scam, people trying to fool other people online by supposedly offering vaccine slots or vaccines," he told ANC's Headstart.

"It’s not very easy to enter our facilities if you are not qualified or not scheduled for the day."

The city has about 8 days' supply of AstraZeneca and Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines, Zamora added.

The mayor, meantime, said he was in favor of a gradual easing of quarantine restrictions. Metro Manila mayors are set to meet as general community quarantine with heightened restrictions imposed on the capital region is set to end May 31.

"If ever the status will change it should be very gradual. It should be just within allowable businesses and industries and possibly just increasing the capacity," he said.

San Juan City's active cases is down to 173 cases from a peak of 1,296 active infections last April 12, Zamora said.

The Philippines on Tuesday tallied 3,972 new COVID-19 cases, bringing its total to 1,188,672, of which 48,201 or 4.1 percent were active infections.

GRADUATION WILL BE THROUGH FACEBOOK AND ZOOM AGAIN THIS YEAR

MANILA — In-person graduation rites are still prohibited due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Department of Education said as the first year of learning during the pandemic nears its end.

This will be the second time since the pandemic began that end-of-school-year ceremonies will not be held in person. Classes have been done online or through learning modules while schools remained closed.

Secretary Leonor Briones in a May 24 memorandum said schools could instead opt for a virtual ceremony between July 12 to 16. The extended school year ends on July 10.

"To ensure the protection of the health and safety of learners, teachers and personnel, as well as parents and other stakeholders, any face-to-face ceremony is not allowed," the memo read, which encouraged schools to keep their program short considering internet connectivity.

DepEd added that schools may broadcast the virtual rites on their social media pages, but should first secure the consent of parents and students.

There is still no word on when the government will allow a return to schools.

PAGBABANTAY SA BASECO BEACH SA MAYNILA, MAS HINIGPITAN

MAYNILA - Todo bantay ang Baseco Beach sa Maynila dahil sa maraming insidente ng pag-swimming sa ibang lugar.

Halos 24 oras na ang pagbabantay ng isang caretaker mula sa barangay para walang makapasok sa beach area at para walang makapag-swimming.

Bukod sa mga barangay, may mga pulis at mga miyembro ng Philippine Coast Guard ang umiikot sa lugar.

Mas naghigpit ngayon makaraan ang ilang insidente sa ibang lungsod kung saan nakaroon ng swimming party at inuman pa. Ang Baseco Beach ay pinupuntahan ng mga tao bago pa man magpandemya. Karamihan ay dayo lang din lamang mula sa ibang lungsod sa Metro Manila.

Ayon sa bantay sa lugar, may nahuli silang isang barkada na nagswimming. Pumasok ang grupo sa dulo ng beach kung saan walang nagbabantay. Agad naman silang nilapitan ng barangay pero nagsitakbuhan ang grupo.

Bukod sa pandemya, bawal ang paglangoy sa beach dahil mataas pa ang coliform level sa dagat. Ang Baseco Beach ay napakalapit lamang sa residential area at sa mga pier.

Pinapayagan naman ang pag-exercise sa inayos at pinagandang parke sa may entrada sa Baseco Beach.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

JANINE GUTIERREZ, SUNSHINE DIZON START SHOOTING NEW SERIES 'MARRY ME, MARRY YOU'

MANILA – Cameras have begun to roll for the upcoming ABS-CBN family drama “Marry Me, Marry You” starring Paulo Avelino and Janine Gutierrez.

On Instagram, actress Cherry Pie Picache shared several photos from the set where she already got to work not only with Gutierrez, but also with Vina Morales, Jett Pangan, Lito Pimentel and newly-signed Kapamilya Sunshine Dizon.

“Thankful, grateful and blessed to be a part and to be working with these wonderful, loving and super foodie peeps and more,” Picache wrote in the caption.

Produced by Dreamscape Entertainment, the ABS-CBN unit behind “Huwag Kang Mangamba” and “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano,” the new teleserye will be helmed by Jojo Saguin and Dwein Ruedas Baltazar.

The series will center on a couple, portrayed by Gutierrez and Avelino, who navigates the traditional expectations attached to marriage — that it extends beyond one’s partner, and includes their friends and family, too.

“Marry Me, Marry You” will mark the first Kapamilya series of Gutierrez and Dizon, as well as the first-ever teleserye of Jake Ejercito, whose character will figure in a love triangle with Gutierrez and Avelino.

The other screen veterans joining the cast include Teresa Loyzaga, Joko Diaz and Edu Manzano.

Up-and-comers who will also be seen in “Marry Me, Marry You” are Adrian Lindayag and Keann Johnson of the hit BL movie “The Boy Foretold by the Stars,” Angelica Lao of The Squad Plus, as well as EJ Jallorina, Iana Bernardez, Luis Vera Perez, and Fino Herrera.

The series will be seen on ABS-CBN platforms, although its release date has yet to be announced.

SPORTS

NBA SCORES MAY 24

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

6 Heat0-2         20        31        27        20        98

3 Bucks2-0       46        32        29        25        132

SCORING LEADERS

D. Dedmon MIA

19 PTS 9 REB 2 AST

G. Antetokounmpo MIL

31 PTS 13 REB 6 AST

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

6 Trail Blazers1-1          25        36        26        22        109

3 Nuggets1-1    31        42        28        27        128

SCORING LEADERS

D. Lillard POR

42 PTS 4 REB 10 AST

N. Jokic DEN

38 PTS 8 REB 5 AST

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 48.13

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

He will never have true friends who is afraid of making enemies. - William Hazlitt