1.5 MILLION MORE SINOVAC VACCINE DOSES ARRIVE IN PH

MANILA - A new batch of Chinese-made Sinovac vaccines has arrived in the Philippines on Thursday.

In an announcement, the National Task Force against COVID-19 said 1.5 million doses made by Chinese drug firm Sinovac Biotech arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 past 7 a.m.

The Department of Health on Wednesday said it would begin distributing the 1 million Sinovac vaccines put on hold last week after it received the certificate of analysis from its manufacturer.

With more than 1.3 million COVID-19 cases and nearly 23,000 deaths, the Philippines has the second highest number of infections and casualties in Southeast Asia, next to Indonesia.

DUTERTE SAYS HE WAS NOT CONSULTED ON PHILIPPINE VOTE FOR UN PROBE ON ISRAEL

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte revealed he was not consulted on a Philippine vote in late May that backed an investigation into alleged crimes committed during the deadly 11-day conflict between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas in Gaza.

Israel has summoned the Philippine ambassador to Tel-Aviv to clarify Manila's vote that backed the independent investigation of the United Nations Human Rights Council on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

The President was about the wrap up his remarks at a ceremonial signing of new laws at Malacañang on Tuesday, when he mentioned that an outgoing ambassador of Israel would pay him a farewell call.

He then told Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, "Ayusin muna natin ito. Ano ba 'yong boto natin sa UN na pina-withdraw ni…? ‘Yong sa Israel."

Medialdea approached the President's podium and answer, but his statement was inaudible.

"Sabi ko na ano, i-withdraw. Sabi ni… Sino ba may alam d'yan? What was that ruckus about?" Duterte replied.

Medialdea then pointed at Presidential Assistant on Foreign Affairs Robert Borje, who also approached Duterte and appeared to be explaining the issue. His remarks were inaudible, too.

"Our representative voted without consulting the home government," the President said, prompting more explanations from Borje.

The rest of their conversation was not caught on the event's livestream uploaded on government's social media pages.

FACEBOOK TAGS GOVERNMENT MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS AS ‘STATE-CONTROLLED MEDIA’

MANILA — Government media organizations are being labeled as “state-controlled media” on social media platforms Facebook and Instagram.

Started in the United States last year, the social media company recently rolled out the policy in other countries, including the Philippines.

The Facebook pages of Philippine government organizations such as PTV, IBC TV 13, Radyo Pilipinas, Philippine News Agency and Radio Television Malacañang now have the label “Philippines state-controlled media” in their posts.

“Facebook has designated this (gov’t) publisher because it believes that it may be partially or wholly under the editorial control of a state,” read the information about the labels.

The policy only covers those identified as media organizations, with other information offices such as the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and the Philippine Information Agency not getting similar labels.

The policy was introduced in the United States ahead of the 2020 elections, with many media organizations in other countries getting the same labels over the past months.

In an earlier statement, Facebook’s head of cybersecurity policy Nathaniel Gleicher said they decided to provide greater transparency into these publishers as “they combine the influence of a media organization with the strategic backing of a state.”

“We believe people should know if the news they read is coming from a publication that may be under the influence of a government,” Gleicher said.

Upon consultation with various experts, he said they developed a policy criteria to determine whether a publisher is wholly or partially under the editorial control of government.

Factors that they consider include the organization’s mission statement, mandate and public reporting, ownership structure, editorial guidelines, newsroom leadership and staff,  source of funding and governance and accountability mechanisms.

“If we determine that there are enough protections in place to ensure editorial independence, we will not apply the label,” said Facebook officials.

“We’ll gradually start applying labels including ‘public official,’ ‘fan page’ or ‘satire page’ to posts in news feed, so people can better understand who they’re coming from,” the company said.

IATF POLICY ON FACE SHIELDS UNCHANGED DESPITE OFFICIALS' COMMENTS

MANILA — The government’s task force on pandemic response has yet to issue a resolution to loosen the requirement of wearing face shields in public, its co-chair said Wednesday.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases will tackle the government’s policy on wearing face shields in a meeting this afternoon.

“We’ll run this through IATF,” Nograles told CNN Philippines’ “The Source”. He said that although government officials have indicated the policy can be relaxed, there is no official order yet to do so.

“The IATF hasn’t issued a resolution or policy yet. Perhaps, this afternoon after the IATF meeting, we’ll have more definite answer from IATF because we have to discuss it among members of the IATF plus our medical experts,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

The statement came after Senate President Tito Sotto III tweeted that President Rodrigo Duterte agreed that face shields should only be worn inside hospitals.

RUNNING FOR VICE PRESIDENT 'GOOD IDEA', DUTERTE NOW SAYS, BUT...

MANILA — In a somewhat change of tack, President Rodrigo Duterte now thinks running for the vice presidency in the 2022 elections is sensible.

"There are a lot of people pushing me to run for Vice President. It is a good idea, I think, particularly if we talk about the drug problem," he said in a speech in Malacanang on Wednesday.

Duterte, who won in 2016 on a platform of curbing crime and wiping out the country's drugs crisis, admitted he has yet to fulfill some of his promises during his presidential campaign.

"Marami pang hindi ko nagawa. I promised about four things. Corruption, I am doing it. I am firing people left and right, sa gobyerno. Then I promised criminality. I think medyo bumaba na ang crimes against the people. Ang isa pa, iyong droga at others ito ... to pursue infrastructure projects. Iyon ang naiwanan ko na hindi ko nagawa at hindi ko kontrolado," he said.

However, he also said he will fulfill his promise to support House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, a political ally, if the latter runs for the vice presidency.

This was part of matters discussed during the meeting that resolved the House leadership struggle between Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco and Taguig Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano last year, Duterte said.

“If you (Romualdez) run for Vice President, I will support you. And I will hold on to that commitment," said Duterte.

He earlier claimed he is "resisting" running for vice president in next year's elections to avoid accusations that he wants to stay in power.

ROMUALDEZ SAYS ‘KEEPING OPTIONS OPEN’ ON 2022 RUN

MANILA — House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez said Thursday that he is “keeping [his] options open” for a possible bid in the 2022 elections after President Rodrigo Duterte assured to support him should he run for vice president.

“For sure, the president’s warm support and words of encouragement will weigh heavily on whatever decision I have to make in October 2021,” the Leyte lawmaker said, referring to the filing of certificates of candidacy.

Romualdez assured Duterte that he will seek his guidance on whatever decision he may make for the 2022 polls.

For now, Romualdez said, he is focused on shepherding Duterte’s priority bills through the House.

“We still have a lot to do in the House of Representatives. We still have a lot of laws that we should pass to improve the condition of our fellow Filipinos during the pandemic,” he said in Filipino.

Romualdez is the president of the Philippine Constitution Association and of the once powerful Lakas – Christian Muslim Democrats, which now has 32 members in the House.

He is a nephew of graft convict and former first lady Imelda Marcos and the first cousin of Sen. Imee Marcos.

He mounted a senatorial bid in 2016, but failed to clinch a seat in the upper chamber.

COMELEC WARNING: DIGITAL VOTE BUYING POSSIBLE IN 2022 POLLS

MANILA - The Commission on Elections on Thursday warned about the possibility of electronic vote buying in the 2022 general elections as the COVID-19 pandemic made cashless transactions more widespread.

This, after Philippine National Police chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar warned that political candidates may try to take advantage of the growth in the use of digital platforms and e-wallets in the country to buy votes.

"Not to sound alarmist, but I think the general is correct. We've been saying that as much for the longest time. Ever since people started using e-wallets, we've seen that potential," the poll body's spokesperson James Jimenez told ANC's "Rundown".

He added, "In fact, especially with the onset of the pandemic, we've seen that majority of transactions have actually moved into that regime, into online transactions. Obviously, that's keeping us up late at night."

HERE'S WHY THE 'DAVAO DEATH SQUAD' WAS INCLUDED IN THE ICC 'DRUG WAR' PROBE

MANILA — In its request to launch an investigation into the situation in the Philippines, the Office of the Prosecutor - International Criminal Court seeks to go beyond President Rodrigo Duterte term and look into his years as mayor of Davao City — where, former prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said, the strategy for the "war on drugs" was honed.

Before she formally ended her term on June 15, Bensouda announced that she has asked the international tribunal to proceed with an investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.

Her office started its preliminary examination — to determine whether to seek a fuller investigation — in February 2018 and said if found "a reasonable basis to believe that the crime against humanity of murder has been committed... in the context of the Government of the Philippines' 'war on drugs' campaign."

In her 57-page request, Bensouda also noted that the "war on drugs" killings "appear to have been committed pursuant to an official State policy of the Philippine government." She said that these "same types of actors" had allegedly been committing similar crimes in Davao City for decades.

"Given the similarities between those killings and the nationwide ["war on drugs"] killings from July 2016 and March 2019, and the overlap of individuals involved during both periods, the Prosecution requests that the 2011-2016 events in Davao be included within the requested investigation," she said.

Those killings fall within the period that the Philippines was a member of the ICC.

PACQUIAO IS THE 'PRESIDENT WE NEED', SAYS PIMENTEL

MANILA - Sen. Manny Pacquiao is the "president that we need" and should declare his intent to run for the presidency in the coming months, party-mate Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III said Thursday.

Pimentel, executive vice-chairman and former president of PDP-Laban, said the boxer-turned-lawmaker seems to have "been preparing for this possibility" so he should declare soon.

"He has many ideas and he has been explaining his ideas, his programs of government, his platform and there are many people from different sectors of our society and different socioeconomic classes who have pledged support to him," he told ANC's Headstart.

"This is what we need, this is the leader that we need, the president that we need," he said, enumerating the criteria as someone who "has a plan for the country, who has the right heart" and who has "widespread enough support from the people of the Philippines."

"If he will listen to me, I will tell him na if you want to run for president, declare na in August or September. Hindi pwedeng i-delay masyado 'yan," said Pimentel.

The party will hold an assembly next month, where an election is expected to happen.

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OCTA: METRO LGUS NOW AT MODERATE RISK

MANILA — All areas in the National Capital Region (NCR) are now considered at “moderate risk” for COVID-19 with the continued decline in new infections, the OCTA Research Group said yesterday.

Citing data from the Department of Health (DOH), OCTA said the average number of new cases in Metro Manila from June 9 to 15 was at 829 cases per day, down 13 percent from the preceding week.

This corresponds to an average daily attack rate (ADAR) of six infections per 100,000 people, which is considered as moderate risk.

TOURISM PUSH: PHILIPPINES AS 'SAFE, FUN, COMPETITIVE DESTINATION' AMID COVID

MANILA - The Department of Tourism on Thursday said it is pushing to position the Philippines as a "safe, fun, and competitive destination" despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

The DOT noted that the 61.2 percent drop of tourism contribution to the Philippines' gross domestic product shows that the pandemic has held back the industry that contributed P2.51 trillion to the economy in 2019.

"More than the losses in tourism arrivals and revenue, these numbers translate to millions of tourism workers severely affected by the pandemic," the DOT said in a statement.

"This compels the DOT to explore all means possible, within the imposed government restrictions, to facilitate the gradual recovery of the tourism industry," it said.

The Tourism Direct Gross Value Added (TDGVA) dropped to P973.31 billion last year, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

This is only 5.4 percent of the industry’s contribution to the country’s GDP, less than half of the 12.8 percent in 2019, the agency said.

The DOT said it would rebuild tourism "confidence and grow demand in the domestic and foreign market" in the next 2 years to help the industry recover.

"This will be achieved by developing and marketing portfolio of products that harness the natural and cultural endowments to benefit the present and future tourism generation," the DOT said.

GOVERNORS CAN DECIDE QUARANTINE STATUS – DILG

MANILA — Provincial governors can impose stricter quarantine measures in their areas, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

At a virtual town hall meeting organized by the Department of Health, DILG spokesman Jonathan Malaya said governors could place towns and cities in their province under enhanced community quarantine or modified ECQ in coordination with the Regional Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.

“Hindi na po kailangan magpaalam yan sa national government,” Malaya said.

He said provincial governments could also impose a lockdown in areas where there is a spike in COVID-19 cases.

COMELEC SUSPENDS VOTER REGISTRATION IN MAKATI

MANILA — The voter registration in Barangay Rizal, Makati will be suspended tomorrow until Saturday amid the reported cases of COVID-19 in the area, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced yesterday.

Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said they have opened satellite voter registration in places where there are zero cases of COVID-19 to reach its target of four million registrants before the Sept. 30 deadline.

The poll body also announced that the Office of the Election Officer in Mutia, Zamboanga del Norte would remain closed until June 30 after it was placed under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ).

Comelec offices in Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay and Zamboanga City were also shut down due to the MECQ extension in these areas.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

JESSY MENDIOLA DENIES BEING 'CLASSIC LOPEZ GIRL'

MANILA — Kapamilya actress Jessy Mendiola denied rumors that she’s a “Classic Lopez Girl.”

In her YouTube channel, Jessy answered the most Googled question about her.

People said that a “Classi Lopez girl” is under the protection of former ABS-CBN network Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Eugenio Lopez III and she is untouchable.

“No. Hindi po totoo. And hindi ko alam kung saan nanggaling 'yun but no, it’s not true,” Jessy clarified the rumors.

Rumors of her being a Lopez girl surfaced after a Facebook page exposed celebrity rumors that included KC Concepcion being a nymphomaniac, Janella Salvador being a lesbian, Maja Salvador having halitosis, among others.

Apart from the Lopez girl rumors, Jessy also answered a question about her being pregnant.

“I’m not yet pregnant. Don’t worry, if ever, I’ll immediately share the news with you and won’t hide it. But right now, not yet,” she said.

Jessy also said that she's ready to get pregnant this year.

Jessy and Luis Manzano tied the knot in an intimate wedding ceremony last February after four years of being together.

SPORTS

FIBA ASIA CUP QUALIFIERS: BELANGEL'S BUZZER BEATER TOWS GILAS PAST SOUTH KOREA

SJ Belangel knocked down a clutch three-pointer as Gilas Pilipinas escaped South Korea, 81-78, for a fourth straight win in the third and final window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers on Wednesday at the Angeles City Foundation Gym in Pampanga.

With a little over two seconds left in the final quarter, Belangel found a way to bank in a triple off a Dwight Ramos inbound to beat the buzzer and give the Filipinos their first victory over the South Koreans since 2013.

The Philippines remained unbeaten at 4-0 to remain atop Group A, while South Korea dropped its first game in the qualifiers for a 2-1 record.

With the win, the Philippines is assured of a spot in the continental showpiece in Indonesia happening this August.

Belangel finished the game with 13 points and five rebounds for Gilas. Ramos and naturalized big man Angelo Kouame chipped in 16 points and 12 points, respectively.

Kai Sotto, who made his debut for the Gilas seniors team, had a productive outing with 11 markers and seven boards.

The Philippines will next face Indonesia on June 18 at the same venue.

NBA SCORES JUNE 15

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

3 Bucks2-3       29        30        28        21        108

2 Nets3-2          15        28        38        33        114

GAME 5: BKN LEADS 3-2, BARCLAYS CENTER, BROOKLYN, NY

SCORING LEADERS

G. Antetokounmpo MIL

34 PTS 12 REB 4 AST

K. Durant BKN

49 PTS 17 REB 10 AST

INDICATORS

FOREX $1 = P 48.09

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Looking for peace is like looking for a turtle with a mustache: You won't be able to find it. But when your heart is ready, peace will come looking for you. - Ajahn Chah