DUTERTE TELLS PUBLIC: GET VACCINATED OR DIE

MANILA — President Duterte has advised people who refuse to get vaccinated against COVID to buy their coffins or prepare their cremation plans as they would surely die of the virus.

Duterte said the government has done everything it could to convince people to avail themselves of the vaccines, but others still refuse to do so.

“Sabi nga ‘pag nabili ‘yong lahat ng bakuna, sobra, kasi maraming tumatanggi (Once all the needed vaccines are purchased, there would be excess supply because many refuse to be inoculated),” Duterte said during a pre-recorded public address on Monday.

“Now ulitin ko ulit. ‘Pag hindi ka nagpabakuna, mamamatay ka talaga. So planuhin mo na ‘yong buhay mo kung paano pagdating ng panahon... Bili ka ng kabaong o magpasunog ka. Magkano ang bayaran mo at maghanap ka na ng pwesto sa sementeryo. Ganyan ‘yan eh. Ayaw ninyong magpabakuna? Patay kayo sigurado (I will repeat: if you do not get vaccinated, you would really die. So plan your life, buy your coffin, have yourself cremated. Determine how much you will pay and find a slot in the cemetery. That’s the way it is. You do not want to be vaccinated? You will surely die),” he added.

Duterte said the government could not provide for those who do not want to get vaccinated with medicines that are not part of the national budget.

“You can say that you can be brought to the hospital. But the rich can buy all the medicines that are very expensive,” he said.

“If that (medicine) is funded under a contingency fund, it’s possible. But for now, I will tell you, to those who do not want to be vaccinated or are afraid to be vaccinated, goodbye to you. That’s what you deserve. Goodbye,” he added.

PALACE SPOKESMAN SAYS DRUG WAR DEATHS 'COLLATERAL DAMAGE', INFO BASED ON 'HEARSAY'

MANILA - Outgoing International Criminal Court Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda's request for a full investigation into drug-war killings in the Philippines will not prosper because her report was based on hearsay information, Malacañang said Wednesday.

"We are confident it will not prosper beyond this stage because in the first place, you need cooperation of the state if you are going to resort to a case buildup but right now, all they have is hearsay information," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told ANC's "Rundown".

On Monday, the top prosecutor of the international war crimes court asked judges to open an investigation into thousands of killings under the country's bloody drug crackdown, saying crimes against humanity could have been committed.

Roque claimed that majority of sources cited in Bensouda's preliminary examination came from the media.

"As a lawyer, we know that media sources are considered hearsay. We need to present people who have actual personal knowledge of events to prove particularly criminal liability, which is proof beyond reasonable doubt," he said.

The Palace spokesman noted a crime against humanity requires a widespread and systematic attack against a civilian population "with the knowledge that it is being directed against a civilian population."

"The reality is the alleged killings arising from the drug war were not killings intended to target civilians as such. They were collateral damage so to speak arising from a valid police operation...to deal with the growing threat of drugs," he said.

SC AWARDS P1 BILLION TO PHILIPPINES VS DISINI OVER BNPP

MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday ordered the late Herminio Disini, an associate of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, to pay the government P1 billion in temperate damage and P1 million in exemplary damages for his role in the awarding of the $2.2-billion Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) project to Westinghouse Electric Corp.

“The court held Disini liable for exerting undue influence in the awarding of the BNPP project by taking advantage of his close association with former president Ferdinand Marcos,” the SC said in a statement sent to reporters yesterday.

Disini passed away in 2014.

Twelve of the magistrates voted unanimously on the decision, with inhibitions from Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo and Associate Justice Amy Lazaro-Javier.

SC spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka told reporters in a Viber message that Gesmundo and Lazaro-Javier did not participate in the decision as they have lawyered for the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) when they were still with the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG).

Hosaka said they will release the full decision of the court once they receive a copy.

US BILL SEEKS HALT TO PHILIPPINE AID

MANILA — A bill seeking to halt the United States’ assistance to Philippine security forces due to the alleged “mass” human rights violations under the Duterte administration has been reintroduced in the US Congress.

A GMA News report said Pennsylvania 7th District Representative Susan Wild announced during an online event organized by Malaya Movement that the proposed Philippine Human Rights Act (PHRA) is a response to the rampant human rights violations under the administration of President Duterte.

“What this bill says is very simple: US taxpayers’ funds should not be used to supply weapons to a regime that violently targets its political opponents, including US citizens like Brandon Lee, a human rights activist, who was shot by state security forces in 2019 and remains paralyzed from the chest down today,” Wild said.

“As a result of that attack, Brandon deserves to know that his government stands with him, not with his attackers,” she said.

The proposed measure seeks to suspend the provision of security assistance to the Philippines until it has made “certain reforms to the military and police forces.”

Wild's House Resolution 8313 or the “Philippine Human Rights Act” was co-sponsored by 23 other Democrat lawmakers, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. – Emmanuel Tupas

MAYOR SARA: NO DUTERTE-DUTERTE TANDEM IN HALALAN 2022

MANILA - Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Tuesday said that she is being asked by her allies to "reconsider" her plans for the 2022 presidential elections.

She had claimed that she "does not intend" to seek the country's top post.

"Well nag-decide na ako nung January. I was asked to extend it till April 30, then by April 30 I was asked to extend it till July. So July binigyan ako ng HNP (Hugpong ng Pagbabago) governors until July to decide,” she said, referring to her party.

She reiterated there will be no tandem with her father in the 2022 elections amid speculations that she will run for president, with President Rodrigo Duterte running for vice president.

“It will never happen that merong Duterte-Duterte... sinabi naman na ni PRRD kung ano 'yung mga reasons niya kung bakit ayaw niya ako tumakbong president,” she said.

"Walang script, ngayon is pinag-iisipang maigi 'yung desisyon dahil hindi siya madaling trabaho na gawin," she said.

WEATHER OR COLLUSIVE ACTS? ANTITRUST WATCHDOG PROBES POWER OUTAGES

MANILA - The Philippine Competition Commission is investigating whether recent power outages in the country were due to collusive practices or natural causes.

Outages can result from "collusive" acts but it can also be from natural causes such as weather disturbance which is no longer covered by its mandate, PCC chairman Arsenio Balisacan told ANC.

"We’re working closely with other agencies of the government...We will do as fast as we can to contribute to the resolution of this case," he said.

The Luzon grid was placed on red alert in late May-early June due to insufficient power supply brought about by high demand.

Lawmakers said there could be accountability on the part of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines for failing to ensure power reserves and on the part of the Department of Energy and the Energy Regulatory Commission for failure to enforce policies.

Investigations are currently ongoing.

MANILA AMONG 50 CHAMPION CITIES IN GLOBAL MAYORS CHALLENGE

MANILA — The city of Manila has been named among the top 50 cities to compete in the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ program for innovative urban solutions in response to issues amid the pandemic.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno expressed gratitude yesterday for the recognition, saying the accolade belongs to every Manileño and every Filipino.

The mayor said the city is committed to the next phase of the competition.

Manila and Butuan were the only Southeast Asian cities that made it to the top 50 cities chosen from over 600 worldwide by the Global Mayors Challenge program.

Other cities in the Asia-Pacific that made it to the top 50 include Auckland (New Zealand), Daegu (South Korea), Pune (India), Rourkela (India), Taipei (Taiwan) and Wellington (New Zealand).

“We offer our congratulations to both Manila and Butuan for making it to the global 50. Out of 631 applications received by Bloomberg Philanthropies, 52 Philippine cities and municipalities submitted their entries, signaling high interest to develop their cities,” Liveable Cities Challenge chairman Guillermo Luz said in a statement yesterday.

As part of the top 50, the cities of Manila and Butuan will have the opportunity to enhance and test their proposals from this month until October to compete for the final round, where 15 winners would be chosen.

The top 15 cities will win $1 million each and receive free consultancy services to implement their projects.

DUTERTE ORDERS ARREST OF TOURISTS WITH FAKE SWAB RESULTS

MANILA — President Duterte has ordered law enforcement agencies and local governments to arrest travelers using fake COVID-19 test results and to ensure that health protocols are followed in tourist destinations.

“Recently, the government has allowed leisure travel from NCR (National Capital Region) Plus to areas under modified general community quarantine. However, it has come to my attention that some travelers arriving in various parts of the country, most notably in Boracay, are presenting fake COVID-19 tests,” Duterte said during a pre-recorded public address on Monday.

“I am also directing the Department of Tourism, Philippine National Police and local governments to arrest those presenting fake COVID tests. Do not be afraid to file sanctions,” he added.

DUTERTE URGES HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS TO 'LOOK DEEPER' INTO PHILIPPINES' DRUG SITUATION

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has urged human rights groups to look deeper into the Philippines' narcotics problem as he insisted that drug suspects were killed because they violently resisted arrest.

During a meeting of the government's pandemic task force last Monday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año reported that six persons died during the police's anti-drug operations from May 30 to June 5.

A total of 1,509 persons were arrested while ten others surrendered to authorities, he added. About P72.9 million worth of shabu and P49.7 million worth of marijuana were seized during the period.

Duterte then asked human rights advocates to take note of the report, saying it proved that some people are really being killed in police raids.

"There are people who died but look at the persons arrested during operations. Sometimes, it's 2,000. It does not go below 1,000," the President said.

"That's why I urge the human rights (advocates), kindly take a deeper look into the drug situation. You would notice that there are really persons who die almost daily because they really fight back," he added.

Duterte said some policemen also got injured or were killed during raids.

The recent raids also proved that narcotics is a huge business, he added.

DUTERTE TELLS FDA: RESOLVE QUESTIONS ABOUT IVERMECTIN'S EFFICACY ONCE AND FOR ALL

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte wants food and drug regulators to resolve questions about the efficacy of anti-parasitic drug ivermectin against COVID-19, saying a lot of "credible people" who caught the virus are claiming that it worked for them.

During a meeting of the government's pandemic task force last Monday, Duterte asked Food and Drug Administration director-general Eric Domingo for updates about ivermectin.

Domingo said the science department would start the clinical trial for the anti-parasitic drug this month.

"There are a lot of credible people, doctors at that, and many civilians, they swear by their fathers’ grave...that ivermectin (was) doing good to their bodies while they (were) suffering from COVID," Duterte said.

"As a lawyer, as a doctor, we have to exercise the greatest...diligence of a good father of a family. We have to apply the strictest procedures before giving it to the public. But I’m just telling you that a lot of people...are telling me they got well after taking this drug," he added.

Duterte said it is important to complete the study on ivermectin early because the drug is cheap and available.

"And if it can lessen COVID by 50%, that would be good already...I am not in a position to say that it should or it should not be used. For me, if there’s an application and you have clinical studies, and if there is no funding, just fund it.  We can... replenish the money later so that...once and for all, we can resolve the issue of this ivermectin," the president said.

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DOTR TO ADDRESS LONG LINES AT TRAIN, BUS STATIONS

MANILA — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is stepping up its efforts to address long queues at rail stations and bus stops along EDSA.

In a statement, the DOTr said Secretary Arthur Tugade has ordered the agency’s road sector and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to implement steps to address concerns regarding long lines of commuters and prevent them from happening again.

Tugade has ordered a review of the present free ride system and a study if it may be expanded to other platforms, not just the road transport sector.

The DOTr said there are now more commuters who prefer to take the EDSA Busway rather than the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) since the bus ride is free.

The DOTr said the consortium has pledged to add 15 more modern buses with left-side doors for the EDSA Busway route.

NCR CRITICAL CASES RISING, ICU BEDS OCCUPIED – DOCTORS

MANILA — While the number of COVID-19 cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) is on a downward trend, a group of doctors observed an increase in severe and critical patients, overwhelming the capacity of hospitals in the NCR.

In an interview with “The Chiefs” on One News/TV5 on Monday night, Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) vice president Maricar Limpin said intensive care unit (ICU) beds in NCR are full, contrary to the pronouncement of the Department of Health (DOH).

“The DOH is saying there are still available beds. But we are the ones who know that there are many severe and critical COVID patients now,” Limpin said. “It’s a cause for alarm that COVID patients are increasing.”

She said COVID-19 patients in ICU wards need to stay for a longer period of time to recover.

“Usually for more than three weeks so the turn around of patients is slow,” Limpin said.

She said most of the patients have developed pneumonia while the critical ones were intubated or placed on oxygen support.

Limpin said the utilization rate for ICU beds in Metro Manila was 50 percent but it went up to 70 percent two weeks ago.

“A week ago or at least last week, it was 80 percent. Now we are 100 percent full,” she said.

GALVEZ VOWS TO MINDANAO: VACCINES TO BE DELIVERED ‘IMMEDIATELY’ ONCE SHOTS ARRIVE

MANILA—Mindanao will be receiving more COVID-19 vaccines, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said, as the region continued to see a surge in coronavirus cases.

In a statement, Galvez said high-risk areas in Mindanao will get more vaccines with the country expecting to receive more than 10 million more COVID-19 vaccines this month.

"The National Task Force against COVID-19 would like to assure our honorable members of the Congress that we will not neglect the regions, especially those in Mindanao, in our vaccine deployment," he said.

"Following President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive to deploy more vaccines to the regions, we will immediately send more vaccines in Mindanao as soon as the rest of the deliveries arrive this month."

Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said there was a lack of vaccines in his locality.

According to Galvez, Mindanao will be receiving more vaccine doses once the supplies arrive.

“We are getting more vaccines there very soon, and Mindanao will not be left behind. This is my promise to all Mindanaoans,” Galvez added

As of June 14, a total of 1,735,630 vaccine doses have been delivered to Mindanao.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

RESTORED ‘MISS YOU LIKE CRAZY’ TO PREMIERE VIRTUALLY ON JUNE 29

MANILA — “Miss You Like Crazy,” the 2010 romance film starring John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo, has been restored in high-definition, and is set for a virtual premiere at the end of the month.

The Star Cinema production, directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina, is the latest film to be digitally remastered by ABS-CBN Film Restoration.

The restored version of “Miss You Like Crazy” will have its digital premiere on June 29, 7:30 p.m., via KTX.ph.

The special screening is part of the ongoing Sagip Pelikula Festival, which kicked off in January and features ABS-CBN Film Restoration’s library of remastered classics.

Last week, Cruz and Alonzo met virtually with Garcia-Molina, as well as “Miss You Like Crazy” writer Vanessa Valdez and Sagip Pelikula head Leo Katigbak.

“It may have been brief and fleeting, like ferries passing each other on the Pasig River. But truly meaningful and transformative. Like the friendship, connection and love Mia and Allan found in each other,” Valdez said, referring to the characters of Cruz and Alonzo in the movie.

Katigbak, who shared the screenshot of the meeting, did not say whether the virtual reunion will be shown as a primer for the restored version’s release, similar to Sagip Pelikula’s previous offerings.

SPORTS

NBA SCORES JUNE 14

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

1 76ers2-2        28        34        20        18        100

5 Hawks2-2       20        29        31        23        103

GAME 4: SERIES TIED 2-2, STATE FARM ARENA, ATLANTA, GA

SCORING LEADERS

T. Harris PHI

20 PTS 5 REB 2 AST

T. Young ATL

25 PTS 4 REB 18 AST

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

1 Jazz2-2          13        31        29        31        104

4 Clippers2-2    30        38        26        24        118

GAME 4: SERIES TIED 2-2, STAPLES CENTER, LOS ANGELES, CA

SCORING LEADERS

D. Mitchell UTA

37 PTS 5 REB 5 AST

P. George LAC

31 PTS 9 REB 4 AST

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 48.03

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Pride is an established conviction of one's own paramount worth in some particular respect; while vanity is the desire of rousing such a conviction in others. - Arthur Schopenhauer