PHILIPPINES FILES FRESH PROTEST VS CHINA'S 'INCESSANT' PRESENCE IN WEST PH SEA

MANILA— The Philippines has filed a diplomatic protest against China over its "incessant" presence around the Pag-Asa Islands in the West Philippine Sea, the foreign office said Saturday, the latest in a string of filings to counter Chinese encroachment in Philippine waters.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said in a statement it was demanding China to withdraw vessels from the Pag-Asa Islands, which is within the country's exclusive economic zone in the disputed South China Sea.

The Philippines maintains a military detachment and has civilian a community in Kalayaan town on Pag-Asa, a part of Palawan.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs lodged a diplomatic protest yesterday against the incessant deployment, prolonged presence, and illegal activities of Chinese maritime assets and fishing vessels in the vicinity of the Pag-Asa Islands, demanding that China withdraw these vessels," the foreign office said.

Calling China's activities and presence in the area "illegal," the DFA said the islands were "an integral part of the Philippines over which it has sovereignty and jurisdiction."

The latest protest follows Manila's earlier diplomatic filings against Beijing over the lingering presence of over 200 ships around the Julian Felipe Reef, also in the West Philippine Sea.

DONATED MODERNA, ASTRAZENECA VACCINES COMING IN JUNE — ENVOY TO US

MANILA — Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines donated by the US may arrive in the Philippines as early as June, Manila’s envoy to Washington said Friday.

The donation will be coming from the US’ excess supply of at least 80 million vaccines that it committed to donating to allies and countries in need, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Romualdez said in an interview with DZMM TeleRadyo.

The White House earlier this month said 60 million of the stockpile are AstraZeneca vaccines while the remaining vaccines would be comprised of shots authorized for use in the US.

“The White House informed me that the Philippines will be included in the [countries receiving the stockpiled vaccines] and it will be delivered even earlier so maybe this June,” Romualdez said.

The envoy added that he is not yet sure how many vaccines from the stockpile will be donated to the Philippines.

ILOILO CITY PLACES 4 AREAS UNDER SURGICAL LOCKDOWN UNTIL MAY 31

MANILA - The local government of Iloilo City placed four areas under surgical lockdown beginning Friday to prevent further spread of COVID-19.

Under Executive Order No. 49 signed by Mayor Jerry Treñas, the lockdown will end on May 31 “unless a longer period is required” in the following areas:

Guzman-Jesena

•           Portion of Block 1, JMI Village

Veterans Village

•           Portion of Zone II

Bolilao:

•           Block 47 Great Vision

•           Block 48 Angelica Store

•           Block 56

Tabuc Suba

•           Tulihaw Street Modern Homes

•           #372 Maya Street

•           Mc Arthur Drive (Golden Homes Mktg.)

RT-PCR tests done from May 22 until May 28 showed 14 positive cases in Guzman-Jesena, 8 each in Veterans Village and Bolilao, and 9 in Tabuc Suba.

“Based on the recommendation of the Iloilo City COVID-19 team, there is a need to impose surgical lockdown in these 4 barangays/areas, located in Iloilo City,” the EO said.

A curfew will be imposed in the said areas from 8 p.m. until 4 a.m. and residents are advised to strictly stay at home during the duration of the lockdown.

Only authorized persons outside of residence shall be allowed entry and exit.

The local government will continue to conduct mandatory RT-PCR testing for all high- and medium-risk contacts of positive cases in the said areas. Those who tested positive will be brought to quarantine facilities in the city.

Residents affected by the lockdown will be provided with food and medical needs.

BELLO: SAUDI EMPLOYERS TO COVER OFW COVID-19 SWAB TEST, QUARANTINE

MANILA - Employers of Filipino workers bound for Saudi Arabia will now cover costs of their COVID-19 testing and quarantine upon arrival there, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said Saturday— a development seen to pave the way for Manila's lifting of the halt on migrant deployment to the Kingdom.

Bello said he received the message from Saudi Ambassador to Manila Abdullah Al-Bussairy on the guarantee from the Saudi government. A letter conveying this is expected to reach Bello's office later Saturday.

This followed shortly after Bello told TeleRadyo Saturday morning that the Philippines only needs a note verbale stating this guarantee for it to lift the OFW deployment suspension.

“Kaya ko sinunspend temporarily 'yung deployment ng ating kababayan sa Saudi ay dahil doon sa institutional quarantine nila na kung saan pagdating ng ating mga OFW doon kailangang i-swab sila at i-quarantine for 10 days. Ok sa akin 'yun if that is their protocol there but malabo kung sino ang magbabayad niyan," Bello said on Teleradyo.

He said this process could cost Filipino workers $3,500, "equivalent to almost one year ng sweldo ng ating mga OFW (of wages of our OFWs),” Bello said.

On Friday, hundreds of OFWs bound for Saudi Arabia were stranded at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport after they were barred from leaving following the deployment suspension.

Bello earlier spoke with the ambassador of Saudi Arabia to ask him to include in their protocol the order for employers to pay for the OFWs' testing and quarantine.

He said a written order would ensure that employers commit to pay the quarantine of their workers and would not charge the Filipino workers for it later.

“We cannot put the OFWs at the mercy of their employers. Kung talagang sasagutin nila why does this government not issue a written order telling the employer babayaran nila 'yung quarantine expense ng ating OFW?” he said.

Bello said government provided assistance in terms of accommodations and food to OFWs who were stranded at the airport because of the order suspending deployment to Saudi Arabia.

WORK-FROM-HOME EMPLOYEES, KASAMA SA A4 PRIORITY CATEGORY SA COVID-19 VACCINATION: BELLO

MAYNILA - Nilinaw ni Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III na maging ang mga manggagawang work-from-home ay dapat na makasama sa A4 katergorya ng mga prayoridad sa pagbabakuna laban sa COVID-19.

“Hindi ibig sabihin na work-from-home ka all the time nasa bahay ka na. You have to liberalize the interpretation. Basta importante 'pag worker ka kasama ka sa A4,” pahayag ni Bello.

Nitong Biyernes ay inilabas ng pamahalaan ang ilang rebisyon sa mga priority groups o pagkakasunod-sunod ng mga indibidwal na babakunahan.

Sakop sa A4 priority group lahat ng manggagawang kailangang lumabas ng bahay at pumasok sa opisina araw-araw.

“Hindi naman kailangang ispecify mo na you have to be at work all the time kasi when you’re working at home, 'yung work-from-home arrangement, it does not mean naman na hindi ka na nagre-report. You have to submit your written report. You have to go there and get your salary. Kung may mga instruction employer mo you come to the office for further instruction,” sabi ni Bello sa panayam sa TeleRadyo.

HUSBAND OF NDFP PEACE CONSULTANT KILLED IN ALLEGED SHOOTOUT WITH POLICE

MANILA — Police killed in an alleged shootout Friday evening Reynaldo Bocala, a peace consultant for the National Democratic Front of the Philippines and husband to fellow peace consultant Maria Concepcion "Concha" Araneta who was designated by the Anti-Terrorism Council as a terrorist.

He and his companion Welly Arguelles Epago were killed in the alleged shootout with members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group at Providence Subdivision in Barangay Balabag in the town of Pavia in Iloilo, according to local media.

Local media quoted police as saying that they were just going to serve four arrest warrants against Bocala, but he and his companion supposedly opened fire at them.

“Wala kaming magawa but to fire back. Nagkaputukan na,” Police Lt. Col. Gervacio Balmaceda Jr. said, as quoted by Panay News.

Local media reported that the Bocala and Epago were armed with two .45-caliber pistols and that “subversive documents,” empty firearm shells and cellphones were recovered from the house they were staying at.

Police also tagged Bocala as a “high-ranking official” of the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army.

The CPP, however, said in a statement that Bocala was unarmed and that the PNP is "concocting lies."

PNP RECRUITMENT FIXER ARRESTED

MANILA — A police colonel from the Philippine National Police Health Service is now under investigation for an alleged money-making racket in the PNP’s recruitment system.

Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, PNP chief, did not name names, but ordered the police colonel investigated after the officer was implicated by a woman arrested for allegedly fixing the entry of police aspirants.

The suspect, Evalyn Aleman, 35, alias “Eva Fonda,” was nabbed in a sting staged by the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (IMEG) last Thursday night in Barangay Upper Bicutan, Taguig City.

The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group tagged Aleman as the person using her Facebook account to offer assistance to police applicants in exchange for large sums of cash.

At a news briefing yesterday, Eleazar explained that the racket involved contacting recruits and charging them P50,000 to ensure their entry into the PNP.

He said Aleman claimed that P30,000 of the sum goes to her police cohort in the Health Service who ensures that the applicant would pass the mandatory neuro-psychiatric examination.?

“We have the name of this colonel, but we’re withholding it because we need more evidence,” said Eleazar, hinting that the police official is also a physician.

While Aleman has claimed to have facilitated the entry of several police officers in the PNP, Eleazar urged applicants not to believe in such schemes.

Police are readying charges against the suspect for violating Republic Act 11032, the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act in relation to RA 10175, the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

The PNP also launched a stricter recruitment process in which qualified applicants are given quick response or QR codes to eradicate the so-called “padrino system” in the organization.

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COVID-19 CASES ON THE RISE ANEW

MANILA — After declining for several weeks, the daily tally for new COVID-19 cases reached a new high of 8,748 cases yesterday, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

The last time the DOH documented more than 8,000 cases was on May 2 when 8,346 cases were recorded.

Based on the DOH’s case bulletin, total cases reached 1,209,154 with active cases pegged at 53,770 or 4.4 percent. Fatalities rose to 20,566 after 187 individuals succumbed to the virus, while 3,017 patients recovered, bringing total recoveries to 1,134,818. Four laboratories failed to submit their data to the COVID-19 Document Repository System (CDRS) last May 26.

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they are not yet keen on allowing people to remove face masks, even for those fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

She noted that while 1.02 million individuals have already received two doses, the number is minimal compared to the unvaccinated population.

“If the US now has a policy, not requiring the wearing of masks in public, here in our country, we have not yet reached their vaccination rate. We have not reached their level of vaccination,” she said.

QUEZON CITY HITS NEW RECORD: 16,649 VACCINATED IN 1 DAY

MANILA — The Quezon City government on Thursday hit a new record-high of 16,649 individuals inoculated against COVID-19 in a single day.

Joseph Juico, co-chair of the city’s vaccination task force, said the number does not include another 3,000 who were vaccinated in national government hospitals located in the city.

The city previously set a target of 24,000 vaccinations per day, but Juico noted that the lack of available vaccines prevents them from achieving this.

“We cannot target 24,000 now simply because we don’t have enough vaccines to roll out. What we do is we only activate vaccination sites depending on the available vaccines,” he told The STAR, noting that around six schools and 16 malls are currently on standby.

BONG GO OPENS 114TH MALASAKIT CENTER

MANILA — Sen. Bong Go personally attended the launch of the 114th Malasakit Center at the Batangas Medical Center in Batangas City on Thursday.

It is the second Malasakit Center in the province after the Batangas Provincial Hospital in Lemery launched its own on Jan. 8, 2019.

In his speech, Go reaffirmed his commitment to push for policies that will improve access to health care services, noting that low-income Filipinos receive poor quality of health care.

“Our goal is to make life comfortable for our fellow Filipinos, lalo na sa panahon ngayon na marami ang nangangailangan ng tulong medikal,” he said.

CITY MAYORS WANT MORE VACCINES

BACOLOD CITY — The League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP) is appealing  for the inclusion of more areas in the priority recipients of COVID-19 vaccines.

In a letter to National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr., Mayors Evelio Leonardia of Bacolod and Arnan Panaligan of Calapan, LCP president and secretary-general, respectively, expressed alarm over reports on the spike in COVID-19 cases in Batangas, Pampanga, Cagayan Valley and parts of the Cordilleras.

The LCP also cited a surge in infections in Mimaropa and Western Visayas, including the cities of Calapan, Bacolod  and Iloilo.

“We deem that the preemptive action of distributing vaccines to a broader number of cities will prevent a potential new wave of case surges throughout the Philippines,” the letter stated.

“We will bank on the expertise of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, NTF and National Immunization Technical Advisory Group to make evidence-based decisions in identifying priority areas in addition to the initial list,” it added.

Leonardia and Panaligan assured Galvez that city mayors would reciprocate the trust and confidence of the national government with more “proactive and efficient programs” in their areas.

11 BAHAY NASIRA SA PANANALASA NG BUHAWI SA ILOILO

Nasa 11 bahay ang nasira matapos manalasa ang isang buhawi sa Brgy. Casalsagan sa Pototan, Iloilo, Biyernes ng hapon.

Ayon sa mga residente, biglang bumuhos ang malakas na ulan at kasabay nito ang napakalakas na hangin, dahilan upang masira ang kanilang bahay at ang iba naman ay natanggal ang mga bubong.

Patuloy pa ang pagtukoy ng MDRRMO Pototan sa halaga ng pinsala na dala ng buhawi.

Nakalikas sa evacuation center ng barangay ang mga apektadong pamilya.

Nagpadala ng tulong ang lokal na pamahalaan ng Pototan sa mga naapektuhan ng buhawi.

LA NIÑA ENDS — PAGASA

MANILA — La Niña, which brought above normal rain in some parts of the country since last year, has ended, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

“La Niña has ended and ENSO-neutral conditions are expected to prevail in June, July and August,” Ana Liza Solis, chief of PAGASA’s climate monitoring and prediction section, told The STAR in a text message.

Solis said ENSO-neutral conditions means neither La Niña nor El Niño is prevailing.

However, Solis said some parts of the country would still experience “slightly” above normal rainfall from June to September – the rainy season in areas under Type 1 climate, which include Metro Manila.

In terms of tropical cyclone occurrence, she said PAGASA expects a “normal” number this year.

In an online climate forum on Wednesday, Solis cited forecasts that La Niña might reemerge this year.

“There are possibilities that La Niña might reemerge during the months of September-October-November, October-November-December and then November-December-January based on model average of both dynamic and statistical. But it’s too early (to say). There is... what we call predictability barrier or the time wherein the credibility of our forecast is low,” she said, citing the US-based Climate Prediction Center.

”Based on historical records, the past six La Niña events were back-to-back La Niña,” Solis said.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

ANGELICA PANGANIBAN MAKES BRIEF TV APPEARANCE AS ‘IT’S SHOWTIME’ JUDGE

Veteran actress Angelica Panganiban took a quick break from her provincial life as she appeared on “It’s Showtime” as one of the judges for the talent competition “Versus: The Grand Show-presa” on Friday.

Panganiban has been spending quality time with her boyfriend businessman Gregg Holman in Subic, Zambales after her last television series “Walang Hanggang Paalam.”

But it seemed that noontime show hosts Kim Chiu and Vice Ganda managed to convince Panganiban to return to Manila for a while to judge the grand finals of the contest.

“Ginamitan namin ng friendship card na hindi niya natanggihan,” Vice revealed.

“Si Angelica kasi nasa Subic na. Simple province girl ang ganap niya so hindi muna siya nag-wo-work. Ayaw munang naglalabas. Pero pinagbigyan niya tayo.”

Chiu, who is one of the closest friends of Panganiban in showbiz, also teased the actress about stepping foot again in Metro Manila.

“Ganito pala sa Manila,” Panganiban answered playfully.

The actress, who also recently starred in the movie “Love or Money” with Coco Martin, expressed her gratitude for getting invited to the noontime show.

“Nakakatuwa. Na-miss ko 'to. Na-miss ko kayo. Thank you at naimbitahan nyo ko,” she quipped.

Vice, on the other hand, also jokingly said that he asked Angelica to guest to improve their ratings.

“Sabi niya, ‘Bakit ako ang naimbitahan mo d'yan? Bakit ako paghuhuraduhin mo d'yan? E 'di ba sanay ka naman sa dahilan ko, para mag-rate,’” Vice said.

Angelica joined Iza Calzado, Darren Espanto and AC Bonifacio in the judging panel for “Versus.”

SPORTS

NBA SCORES MAY 27

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

3 Bucks3-0       26        23        37        27        113

6 Heat0-3         14        22        24        24        84

SCORING LEADERS

K. Middleton MIL

22 PTS 8 REB 5 AST

J. Butler MIA

19 PTS 8 REB 6 AST

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

2 Suns1-2         28        12        23        32        95

7 Lakers2-1      27        16        33        33        109

SCORING LEADERS

D. Ayton PHO

22 PTS 11 REBA. Davis LAL

34 PTS 11 REB

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

3 Nuggets2-1    39        25        20        36        120

6 Trail Blazers1-2          30        29        20        36        115

SCORING LEADERS

N. Jokic DEN

36 PTS 11 REB 5 AST

D. Lillard POR

37 PTS 2 REB 5 AST

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 47.80

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

I believe that imagination is stronger than knowledge -- myth is more potent than history -- dreams are more powerful than facts -- hope always triumphs over experience -- laughter is the cure for grief -- love is stronger than death. - Robert Fulghum