PH WELCOMES 1 MILLION MORE SINOVAC COVID-19 SHOTS

2.2 million Pfizer jabs set to arrive later Thursday

MANILA—The Philippines early on Thursday received 1 million more COVID-19 vaccine doses from China's Sinovac Biotech, just days after the government widened its inoculation drive to cover essential workers to curb coronavirus transmission and open up the economy.

The Sinovac doses arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport at around 7:28 a.m.

This batch is part of some 5 million Sinovac jabs that authorities expect to receive this month, vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said.

The Philippines later Thursday is expected to welcome another 2.2 million COVID-19 shots from Pfizer-BioNTech from vaccine-sharing COVAX facility, Galvez earlier said.

Cebu and Davao will each get 210,600 Pfizer doses, while the rest will go to Metro Manila, the National Task Force Against COVID-19 said.

DUTERTE'S ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS WHILE IN OFFICE VIOLATES LAW: LAWYER

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte's acceptance of expensive gifts such as a house is a violation of the law, a lawyer said Thursday.

Duterte had said he received a house from Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ sect when he was Davao City mayor and that he would only own the house after he retires from politics.

Government officials, however, should observe a "no gifts" policy, according to Tony La Vina, former dean of the Manila-based Ateneo School of Government.

"Anything substantial di mo siya puwedeng tanggapin while nasa gobyerno ka. It doesn’t matter kahit sabihin mo na technically magiging sa'yo lang sa pagkatapos ng term mo," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.

"That violates not just the spirit of the law but the law itself. Di naman sinasabi ng law na kailangan yung regalo na sayo na. Kung ang intent na sa'yo na, violation po yun ng (Anti)-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act."

Duterte can face charges after his term for violating the law while Quiboloy could face complaints now as he was not criminally immune, La Vina said.

"Hindi naman ibig sabihin na kung transparent ka, tama na. 'Di lang siya puwedeng sampahan ng kaso ngayon because may immunity ang President," he said.

"No gifts policy dapat. Every government official, politician should have a no gifts policy."

SENATOR QUESTIONS DBM REQUEST FOR P25 BILLION MORE FOR COVID-19 VACCINES

MANILA - A senator on Thursday questioned the budget department's request for another P25 billion to purchase COVID-19 vaccines.

This as government has yet to report how much of the P82.5 billion allocated for vaccine purchase has been disbursed, said Sen. Francis Pangilinan.

"We’d like to know what happened to the P82.5 billion. Why is there a request for an additional P25 billion when the existing P82.5 billion vaccine purchases have yet to materialize," he told ANC's Headstart.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III has expressed willingness to hold a Committee of the Whole hearing on the country's COVID-19 response, Pangilinan said.

"These are major issues that I think during the recess the Senate as a whole should be able to tackle," he said.

"Hopefully during the recess [that will be scheduled]. The Senate President has expressed his willingness, maybe it’s just a matter of scheduling it."

Pangilinan also called for an intensified information dissemination campaign on COVID-19 vaccines as he cited health department data that some 113,000 Filipinos did not receive their second dose.

"In December the vaccine hesitancy was 47 percent, today it's 70 percent. What happened to the information dissemination drive? Instead of convincing more, mukhang (it seems) more got convinced otherwise. That could be one of the reasons why 113,000 did not go for second dose," he said.

The Philippines is only administering 100,000 COVID-19 shots daily instead of its target 500,000, he added.

Meantime, senators would have to be updated on the disbursement of funds under the Bayanihan to Recover As One law before it tackles a third stimulus measure, Pangilinan said.

The P401-billion Bayanihan 3 bill was passed on final reading in the House of Representatives without a certification from the national treasurer that funds are available, Pangilinan said.

"I guess that's a key challenge, you cannot enact law without certification that the funds are available," he said.

LP BACKS ROBREDO MOVE TO FIELD ONLY ONE OPPOSITION PRESIDENTIAL BET

MANILA - The president of the Liberal Party said Thursday he trusts Vice President Leni Robredo's decision to seek only one presidential candidate for the opposition in next year's elections.

Senator Francis Pangilinan said he trusts Robredo's instincts and political sense.

"The reason behind why we need to have one candidate is because we want to win. If we split the votes it will be Duterte and his administration again," he told ANC's Headstart.

"The Vice President said that candidate will not necessarily be her. That in itself is lessons learned in 2016 and 2019," he added.

Opposition coalition 1Sambayan has said that it is possible candidates have agreed to "trust the process" and set aside their personal interest as it seeks only one presidential nominee.

Pangilinan, meantime, reminded the public to register to vote in next year's polls.

"If we want to take our country back, we have to start with our own young people who will inherit this country, be the future of this country," he said.

CLIMATE CRISIS DRIVING FILIPINOS TO RELOCATE — UN MIGRATION REPORT

MANILA — Migration is one of strategies employed by Filipinos to cope with the impacts of the climate crisis, a report of the United Nations migration agency found.

A report from the International Organization for Migration Philippines identified farmers and fisherfolk, women, elderly, and the urban poor as the most vulnerable to and severely impacted by the effects of the climate crisis such as extreme weather events, increase in temperatures, sea level rise, heavy rainfall and drought.

In response to the increasing climate risks, Filipinos rely on voluntary adaptive strategies such as permanent and circular migration as well as involuntary strategies such as distress migration and systemic relocation.

“The relationship between the climate emergency and migration is mediated by the quality of one’s livelihood as well as access to security, peace and stability,” the report read.

“Specifically, the more that the climate emergency affects the quality of livelihood and the quality of peace and stability in a certain place, the more that people are driven to undertake migration as an adaptive strategy,” it added.

In a release, the Climate Change Commission said it is committed to integrate migration as a key theme in policy discourse, and to develop policies and programs centered on migrants.

'I WAS THE ONE WHO EXPOSED IT': WHISTLEBLOWER REJECTS HAND IN 'VACCINE SLOTS FOR SALE'

MANILA - A local businesswoman who exposed the alleged sale of COVID-19 vaccination slots is "really, really surprised" that she was included in the list of suspects in connection with the scheme.

Nina Ellaine Dizon-Cabrera, CEO of makeup brand Colourette Cosmetics, said she exposed the scheme on her Twitter page, where she has at least 123,000 followers, after seeing a post by someone selling COVID-19 vaccines.

"I was the one who posted about this alleged scheme. What happened was I saw a 'for sale' post online and then I inquired. And then I found out that they were selling not vaccines but vaccine slots from LGUs. So I took it to Twitter," she told ANC's Headstart.

"And then all of a sudden, I was caught in the middle. I was dragged into the case, saying I had the intent to sell—but really, I was the one who exposed it."

She added that she got in touch with the local government of San Juan after her Twitter posts went viral. "I posted everything on Twitter, all of my conversations...They even thanked me for all the information I passed on to them," she said.

Cabrera and 2 others were charged with estafa, violation of the Anti-Red Tape Law of 2007, and of the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012, according to a press release by the Philippine National Police.

Citing reports by the Anti-Cybercrime Group, PNP Chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said Cabrera was tagged after investigation showed that she offered 50 to 100 vaccination slots in Mandaluyong City. This supposedly showed intent to sell and alleged involvement in the illegal activity.

"Wait. BAT AKO UNG NAGBENTA BIGLA? Ako nga yung binentahan at ako ang nagpost? Hold on," Cabrera said in a Twitter post following the PNP press release.

PNP BRUSHES OFF CRITICISMS AS GROUPS CALL FOR REVIEW OF ISSUANCE, SERVICE OF WARRANTS

MANILA — The chief of the Philippine National Police rebuffed criticisms anew after local and international rights groups called on the Supreme Court to review how search warrants are issued and served.

The groups said the search warrants were being "weaponized" against activists.

In a statement sent to reporters Thursday, Police Gen. Guillermo Eleazar claimed that the police organization was "always mindful that cops adhere to the Police Operational Procedures when conducting operations."

He also played down the longstanding concerns of human rights violations, saying the PNP cannot give weight to all of them in the absence of "proof."

“There will always be accusations of police abuse in all manner of our operations but if we were to give weight to all these attributions of wrongdoing on our policemen, even without proof, we would no longer be able to effectively fulfill our mandate," Eleazar said.

“While we acknowledge the concern of these groups, we would like to assure them that the PNP has not been remiss in ensuring that police operations are legitimately conducted.”

This came after 103 groups in a letter addressed to the Supreme Court and Department of Justice urged a review on the issuances of search and arrest warrants which they said were used by state forces to detain, harass, and kill activists.

The groups in their letter pointed to the "weaponization of search warrants" in what they said was the "alarming and ongoing pattern of criminalization and violence against human rights defenders in the Philippines."

They also pointed out the practice of police and military using the “nanlaban” (violent resistance) narrative to explain the deaths—a pattern that even the country's justice department has said violated the PNP's operational protocols on occasion.

PHILIPPINES SUPPLY OF VACCINES TO NORMALIZE BY JUNE 14

MANILA — The Philippines’ COVID-19 vaccine supply is expected to “normalize” by June 14, as more deliveries arrive to solve supply shortages in local governments outside Metro Manila, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said yesterday.

“What we’re seeing is by June 14, our supply will begin to normalize,” Galvez said, adding that about 3.2 million doses of Pfizer and Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines would be arriving today, part of the 11 million doses expected for June.

The National Task Force chief expects 12 million doses to arrive next month and about 17 million more by August.

Galvez said the government will deploy the lion’s share of 11 million doses this month to different provinces, so local government units can resume their respective rollouts.

“What’s going to be retained in Metro Manila are more or less 30 to 40 percent and more than 60 percent will go outside. So what we’re seeing is maybe six million will be deployed outside (Metro Manila),” the vaccine czar said.

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PALAWAN, ISINAILALIM SA STATE OF CALAMITY DAHIL SA PAGTAAS NG KASO NG COVID-19

MAYNILA - Isinailalim na ang buong lalawigan ng Palawan sa state of calamity dahil sa patuloy na pagtaas ng bilang ng kaso ng COVID-19.

Ayon kay Winston Arzaga, chief ng public information office ng Palawan, umabot na sa 620 ang active COVID-19 cases sa Palawan nitong Miyerkoles.

“Mataas yan, although compared sa ibang probinsiya, mababa pa yan pero sa amin dangerous enough para sa amin. Kinakailangang matugunan ng pamahalaang probinsiya kaya nag declare ng emergency para sa ganun magamit namin ang aming calamity fund para matugunan ang pangangailangan natin,” sabi ni Arzaga.

Aniya, gagamitin ang pondo para pambili ng pagkain, antigen kits at dagdag na PPEs.

“Food packs na kailangang ipreposition natin, yung additional antigen kits para sa ating frontliners na gagamitin sa mga border and then yung importante dito lalong mapablis yung paggawa ng molecular laboratory,” sabi niya.

Meron na aniyang molecular laboratory sa Puerto Princesa at nais pa nilang magtayo sa Coron at El Nido para mas mapabilis ang paglabas ng resulta ng mga dadalhin doong specimen.

Samantala, dumating naman nitong MIyerkoles ang 9,480 vials ng Sinovac na unang ibibigay sa mga munisipyong may mataas na kaso ng COVID-19.

Sa tala ng Palawan PIO nitong Miyerkoles, ang mga bayan na may mataas na bilang ng COVID-19 active cases ay ang mga sumusunod:

Roxas - 123

Bataraza - 93

Brooke's Point - 72

Coron - 68

Taytay - 61

DAVAO DEL SUR GOVERNOR DOUGLAS CAGAS PASSES AWAY

MANILA—Davao del Sur Governor Douglas Cagas passed away on Thursday morning due to complications from COVID-19, his family said.

"It is with our deepest sorrow that we announce the passing of Governor Douglas 'Dodo' Cagas this morning, owing to COVID complications. He has joined his Creator in Heaven," a post on Facebook by his niece, Ria Fe Cagas Fernandez, stated.

Cagas had been a politician for more than three decades, beginning as an assemblyman in the 1980s, then as congressman from 1998 to 2007.

The former lawmaker had served as governor of the province from 2007 to 2013, 2016 to 2019, and then 2019 up to present.

Cagas was among those linked to the death of journalist Nestor Bedolido in Digos City in 2010. He voluntarily surrendered to authorities in 2014 after the court had issued a warrant for his arrest.

In 2016, Cagas was accused of pocketing P9.3 millions in kickbacks through the controversial pork barrel scam when he was still congressman.

Cagas is survived by his wife, Rep. Mercedes Chan Cagas and son, former congressman and Vice Governor Mac Douglas IV.

ABSALON COUSINS KILLED IN NPA BLAST WERE ALSO SHOT — MILITARY

MANILA — Football athlete Kieth Absalon and his labor leader cousin Nolvin Absalon, who died after an explosive planted by the New People’s Army detonated while they were biking in Masbate City, were also shot, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said Thursday.

"Our investigation shows that aside from being blown up, they were also shot," AFP spokesperson Edgard Arevalo said in Filipino over state-run People's Television.

Arevalo said they are now determining whether the two men were shot first or were first injured by the explosion and then shot.

Autopsy reports prepared by the Masbate City Health Office which were sent to reporters late Wednesday night said that the Absalon cousins died from blood loss due to gunshot wounds and blast injuries they sustained.

Kieth, 21, sustained a gunshot wound in the right eye, while Nolvin, 38, had gunshot wounds on his right shoulder blade and his thigh.

The older Absalon also had a “gaping wound” on the left side of his head “with brain tissues exposed.” They also sustained numerous wounds across their body, according to the autopsy reports.

The Communist Party of the Philippines and the NPA has owned up to the killing of the two men and apologized for the “errors in the military action mounted by an NPA unit.”

Rights monitors and government officials widely condemned the killing of the Absalons, with them calling for justice for their deaths.

ILANG PARTE NG DAVAO CITY BINAHA DAHIL SA PAG-ULAN

DAVAO CITY - Umabot hanggang bewang ang pagbaha sa ilang bahagi ng Davao City Miyerkoles ng gabi dahil sa malakas na pag-ulan.

Hindi madaanan ng mga sasakyan ang national highway sa Laverna Hills dahil sa taas ng tubig-baha.

Isang pamilya na na-trap sa baha naman ang na-rescue sa Guillermo St. Phase 3, Laverna Hills. Nasagip din ng Central 911 at mga rescue volunteer ang 3 pamilya mula sa baha.

Nakaranas ng matinding pag-ulan ang lungsod dahil sa monsoon trough na nakaapekto sa bansa.

COMMUNITY PANTRIES TO GET VEGETABLES DONATED BY SUPREME COURT JUSTICES

MANILA — Community pantries that sprung across the country amid the prolonged lockdown in the country received support from the Supreme Court as justices donated tons of vegetables to fill food banks in Metro Manila.

“The 14 incumbent magistrates of the Supreme Court, using their personal resources and working collectively, purchased more than 14 tons of vegetables form farmers to be distributed top various community pantries,” the SC Public Information Office said in a statement.

The donated vegetables will be given to the indigent ward of the Philippine General Hospital, the Manila Police District and to community pantries in Metro Manila, the SC PIO said.

“All justice is based on ethical compassion,” it added.

The turnover of donated vegetables took place on Thursday, on the eve of the SC’s 120th anniversary.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

MISS UNIVERSE PHILIPPINES REMOVES MINIMUM HEIGHT REQUIREMENT FOR 2021 PAGEANT

The search for the successor of reigning Miss Universe Philippines titleholder Rabiya Mateo is on and fans could not help but take notice of one major change on the list of qualifications -- height requirement.

Miss Universe Philippines organizers sent netizens abuzz after announcing the removal of the height requirement as part of the qualifications for candidates.

On its Facebook page, the organization listed a few requirements to qualify for the 2021 batch of Miss Universe Philippines contestants such as being a Filipino citizen and a Philippine passport holder.

The applicants should also be at least 18 years old but still under 28 years old at the time of the pageant. They should also be female and have never been married or given birth.

Pinoy pageant fans appeared to be excited with the newest move from the MUP as it will open the competition to many qualified candidates.

SPORTS

NBA SCORES JUNE 8

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

5 Hawks1-1       20        35        29        18        102

1 76ers1-1        33        24        34        27        118

GAME 2: SERIES TIED 1-1, WELLS FARGO CENTER, PHILADELPHIA, PA

SCORING LEADERS

T. Young ATL

21 PTS 3 REB 11 AST

J. Embiid PHI

40 PTS 13 REB 2 AST

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

4 Clippers0-1    25        35        19        30        109

1 Jazz1-0          18        29        32        33        112

GAME 1: UTA LEADS 1-0, VIVINT SMART HOME ARENA, SALT LAKE CITY, UT

SCORING LEADERS

K. Leonard LAC

23 PTS 7 REB 3 AST

D. Mitchell UTA

45 PTS 3 REB 5 AST

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 47.73

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself. What a man can be, he must be. - Abraham H. Maslow