PH RECEIVES INITIAL DELIVERY OF 249,600 MODERNA COVID-19 JABS

MANILA - The Philippines on Sunday received its first shipment of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine containing 249,600 doses, as the country tries to ramp up its vaccination drive.

The initial delivery of the US drugmaker's coronavirus jab arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 around 11 p.m.

The Philippine government will get 150,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine while 99,600 doses will go to ICTSI, the company of ports billionaire Enrique Razon who procured it for the private sector.

PH RECEIVES FRESH BATCH OF 1 MILLION SINOVAC COVID-19 VACCINES

MANILA - Another batch of 1 million Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines arrived in the Philippines on Monday morning.

The Cebu Pacific flight that transported the vaccines from Beijing arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2 at 7:30 a.m.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. were present during the vaccines' arrival.

On Sunday, the country received its first shipment of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine containing 249,600 doses.

The Philippines has administered 8.9 million COVID-19 vaccine doses as of June 22, with 2,246,897 individuals or 3.87 percent fully vaccinated out of its target 58 million.

PHILIPPINES ADMINISTERS 10 MILLION DOSES OF COVID-19 VACCINES; 2.5 MILLION FULLY PROTECTED

MANILA - The Philippines has administered more than 10 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to its population nearly four months since its inoculation program began, government said Monday.

A total of 10,065,414 doses have been given out as of Sunday, of which 7,538,128 were first doses, according to the Department of Health.

The remaining 2,527,286 were second doses. Those who have completed the required 2 doses are considered fully vaccinated.

The daily average of vaccine doses administered from June 21 to 27 was 236,867, an increase from the previous 7 days' 208,809, according to the ABS-CBN Data Analytics Team.

At the current rate, the country will reach its maximum target of 70 million people fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to achieve herd immunity, by December 2022 or in 1.5 years, it said. The government has set a minimum target of 58 million to be fully vaccinated to achieve herd immunity.

"The vaccination pace is picking up. But to reach 70 million people by end of the year, the pace should now be around 695,000 daily," said Edson Guido, head of ABS-CBN Data Analytics Team.

P9 BILLION RELEASED FOR HEALTH WORKERS’ RISK ALLOWANCE

MANILA — With just days to go before the expiration of the Bayanihan 1 pandemic aid law, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has approved the release of P9.02 billion to the Department of Health (DOH) to cover the special risk allowance or SRA of health workers exposed to COVID.

Yesterday, the DBM said it handed the special allotment release order and the notice of cash allocation for the payment of SRA of public and private health practitioners. This will provide the DOH funds to pay them P5,000 per month from Dec. 20, 2020 to June 30 this year.

President Duterte on June 1 signed Administrative Order 42 that grants COVID-19 SRA to health workers exposed by their duty to the virus.

Under this order, the SRA will be pro-rated based on the number of days that a medical personnel reported for work in a month as certified by the head of the hospital, laboratory or quarantine facility.

According to the DBM, health workers qualified for the SRA can expect to get theirs on or before June 30, 2021.

“The DBM is committed to fulfill its mandate of promoting the efficient and effective management of the national budget to support its budget priorities while also ensuring that the needs of the Filipino people are met, especially of healthcare workers in this time of pandemic,” it said.

PNP BACKS DUTERTE PROPOSAL TO ARM CIVILIANS, LACSON SHOOTS DOWN IDEA

MANILA - The Philippine National Police on Sunday defended President Rodrigo Duterte's proposal to arm civilians in the government's anti-crime drive, even as former PNP chief and incumbent Senator Panfilo Lacson said this was a bad idea.

Last June 25, Duterte told a gathering of law enforcers and civilian volunteer "force multipliers" that he was "open" to arming civilian groups.

“If you have this coalition, you have a list of people who are there who can arm themselves. I will order the police if you are qualified, get a gun, and help us enforce the laws,” Duterte said.

The Commission on Human Rights on Saturday however warned that "arming civilians without proper training, qualification, and clear lines of accountabilities" may negatively impact human rights in the country.

In a statement, PNP chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar acknowledged the concerns raised by the CHR, but assured it that arming civilian organizations will not lead to vigilantism.

"We understand the concern of the officials of the Commission on Human Rights but we assure them that the President’s suggestion is to encourage volunteerism and definitely not vigilantism," he said.

“Batid ng ating Pangulo at kami mismo sa PNP ang panganib na kakaharapin ng aming volunteers for standing up against criminal elements that include members of the CPP-NPA-NDF and the suggestion made was aimed at ensuring their own protection—but with an assurance that they will undergo the rules and procedures for civilians to possess and carry firearms,” Eleazar added.

ROBREDO OPPOSES ARMING ANTI-CRIME VOLUNTEERS

MANILA — Vice President Leni Robredo opposed yesterday President Duterte’s suggestion to arm civilian volunteers in fighting crime.

Speaking in her weekly program over dzXL radio, Robredo described the President’s suggestion as “very dangerous” and “ineffective.”

“That’s very dangerous… for me, carrying an arm is a huge responsibility, a huge accountability,” the Vice President said, noting that the move could lead to more human rights abuses.

“Let’s learn lessons from the past… there are a lot of problems that can be resolved without arms,” she pointed out.

Instead of arming civilians, Robredo urged the administration to make them part of governance.

“The solution is not punitive. The solution is more preventive in the sense that the people should be included from the beginning. They become more responsible when they cooperate more, when they have ownership of the problem,” she said.

“What we are campaigning for is the kind of governance where the people are not just beneficiaries of government projects, but are partners,” Robredo said.

“We should remove the mindset that if you don’t follow you’ll be arrested, or something bad will happen to you. If people always operate in fear, that is not effective,” she said.

Duterte made the proposal to arm civilian anti-crime volunteers during the launch of the Philippine National Police’s Global Coalition of Lingkod Bayan Advocacy support groups and force multipliers last week.

DOH TO IMPROVE PROTOCOL AFTER VIDEO OF INCORRECT VACCINATION GOES VIRAL

MANILA — The Department of Health said Monday improvements in vaccination protocol will be implemented after a prospective vaccine recipient failed to receive a proper dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

In a statement, the DOH called the incident a “breach in the vaccination protocol.”

A video circulating on social media showed a vaccine recipient filming the administration of her COVID-19 dose. The health worker was seen in the video inserting the needle into the arm of the recipient but did not push down on the plunger, which meant the contents of the syringe were not injected into the arm.

In a statement, the DOH said the vaccination site was quick to address the mistake and the individual was successfully inoculated after showing the video to the vaccination team.

"The department is investigating this breach in the vaccination protocol in coordination with the local government unit concerned, and reminds all vaccinators to take extra care and attention during inoculation," the DOH said.

It added immediate improvements in the protocol will be made to "ensure we limit the chances of this from happening again."

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III called the incident "very bad", saying also that the health department "cannot tolerate such action."

PHILIPPINES AMONG COUNTRIES ON MONEY LAUNDERING WATCH LIST

Haiti, Malta, Philippines and South Sudan were recently placed on a "grey list" of countries under increased monitoring to counter money laundering and terrorist financing.

The Financial Action Task Force, an international organisation that coordinates global efforts to crack down on money laundering and terrorism financing, said nations on the list are working with it to correct deficiencies in their financial systems.

The additions bring to 22 the number of countries currently under increased monitoring by the intergovernmental watchdog, which was created in 1989.

Malta becomes the only EU nation on the list dominated by African and Central American and Caribbean countries.

Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela earlier this week criticised the FATF's decision, but he pledged to improve oversight on financial crimes.

"While I consider this decision as one which is unjust, our country will continue to build on the many reforms we have already done", Abela said.

"Instead of complaining, we will see this challenge as an opportunity", he told journalists, pledging to respect the watchdog's decision.

The move comes one month after the Council of Europe's anti-money laundering body, Moneyval, cited Malta's improvement in combating money laundering, according the country higher international compliance ratings in certain areas.

DILG TO PNP: KEEP OUT OF POLITICS

MANILA — Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has reminded the Philippine National Police to keep out of politics, following the dismissal of six police officers over the illegal arrest of a Negros Occidental government official in 2017.

Año said that the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the National Police Commission (Napolcom) do not tolerate political partisanship and political harassment, especially with the coming 2022 elections.

The reminder comes after six police officers were dismissed for the illegal arrest of then Moises Padilla town vice mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo in 2017. She is now the mayor of the Negros Occidental municipality.

“The dismissal of these cops is a warning to the entire PNP to be non-partisan especially during the election season,” Año said in a statement.

MARTIN ROMUALDEZ TO RUN AS SARA DUTERTE'S VP? 'WE'LL KEEP OPTIONS OPEN', HE SAYS

MANILA - House Majority Floor Leader Martin Romualdez on Monday said he is keeping his options for a 2022 run open as his political party forms an alliance with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio's regional party.

Romualdez's Lakas-CMD renewed its alliance with Duterte-Carpio's Hugpong ng Pagbabago ahead of next year's elections. Duterte-Carpio has topped preference surveys for the position of president, and her father, President Rodrigo Duterte, recently said he would support Romuladez's vice-presidential bid should he go for it.

In an interview on ANC's Headstart, the lawmaker was asked if he would not seek the second highest executive post if not as the younger Duterte's running mate.

He replied, "Obviously, the alliance is with HNP, so that will be the priority. I’ve not had many conversations with other parties with respect to this development."

"But we’ll keep our options open and we’ll see how things come along. But the likelihood will obviously be with our allies at the HNP," he said.

MARCOS STILL 'A VERY BIG NAME IN POLITICS, ALWAYS A PLUS,' RELATIVE MARTIN ROMUALDEZ SAYS

MANILA - House Majority leader Martin Romualdez on Monday said he had always considered his relationship with the Marcoses "a plus" as the 2022 national elections nears.

The representative of Leyte's 1st district is the nephew of former First Lady Imelda Marcos. He earlier said he would consider President Rodrigo Duterte’s endorsement for the vice presidency in next year's polls.

"I’m a Romualdez first and obviously I'm related (to the Marcoses) and I’m proud of the relationship," he told ANC's Headstart when asked how he would come into his own in the 2022 elections.

"The relationship has always been a good relationship in terms of not just familial, but personal relationships, even politically. The Marcoses are still a very big name in politics, and having them with you is always a plus."

Romualdez said he was "keeping his options open" for a 2022 run after the President's remark, and after the lawmaker's political party formed an alliance with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio's regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

"I don’t want to preempt all of our friends who are thinking of filing. It might be presumptuous of me to even suggest my name at this point," he said.

The lawmaker, meantime, said his cousin former Senator Bongbong Marcos met with former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo last month not to seek endorsement.

Romualdez is the president of Lakas-CMD while Arroyo serves as the party's president emeritus.

THE REST

========

PH CONFIRMS 6,096 NEW COVID-19 CASES; 128 DEATHS

MANILA - The Philippines confirmed 6,096 new cases of the COVID-19 on Sunday bringing the country’s total to 1,397,992.

The Department of Health also reported 6,912 new recoveries, pushing the total number of Filipinos who recovered from the disease to 1,321,050.

This means that the country has a total of 52,570 active cases as of 4 p.m. Sunday.

One hundred twenty eight more deaths were reported from the illness, bringing COVID-19’s death toll in the Philippines to 24,372.

The positivity rate is below 13 percent for the 6th straight day.

PNP FINALIZING PSYCH TEST GUIDELINES FOR COPS

MANILA — The Philippine National Police Health Service is finalizing the guidelines for psychological tests for PNP personnel following the shooting rampage inside the Manila Police District (MPD) headquarters that left two officers dead and another wounded on Friday night.

“This incident at the MPD, along with the previous ones, highlight the need for us to closely look into the mental health of our men,” PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said over the weekend.

Executive M/Sgt. Reynante Dipasupil was killed in a firefight with his colleagues after he barged into the police headquarters and fired at different offices, including the drug enforcement unit and the office of MPD director Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco.

Eleazar ordered the MPD to probe the incident.

“Kailangan alamin ng MPD ang tunay na dahilan, bukod sa kalasingan, kung bakit nag-amok at namaril itong si Dipasupil ng kanyang mga kabaro,” he said.

Eleazar said he was considering psychiatric and psychological examination for police officers every three years, especially those involved in ground operations.

SOILED VEHICLES BANNED AT CRAME

MANILA — The Philippine National Police has implemented new guidelines for the entry of PNP personnel and civilians at Camp Crame.

In an order from the Headquarters Support Service obtained by The STAR, soiled vehicles of police personnel need to be washed first before being allowed entry into the PNP headquarters.

The rule also applies to civilians who need to transact business or acquire documents and permits with the PNP offices.

A police official, who asked not to be named, said they opposed the new policy, which started on Friday.

“What if you came from an operation? You will need to report back to Crame. Will you still think of getting a car wash?” the official said in a phone interview.

Other guidelines include the posting of PNP personnel around the headquarters to accost or issue citation tickets to overspeeding vehicles, issue violation receipts to those not following COVID-19 protocols and bar the entry of motorcycles without stickers or decals.

The PNP also ordered office personnel to help take pictures of latecomers during the Monday flag-raising rites.

PNP chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar has launched an intensified cleanliness program to make sure that police stations, precincts and offices are clean.

GMA NEWS DENIES REPORTER REMOVED FROM PALACE COVERAGE OVER SAKSI REPORT

MANILA — GMA News Online rebuffed speculations that its award-winning reporter Joseph Morong was removed from covering Malacañang over a fact check report on the Duterte administration's pandemic response.

This comes months after the report in question, aired in Saksi, was taken down from the network's social media platforms. Morong announced his reassignment not long after.

In a statement posted on its official social media channels Sunday afternoon, GMA News said the removal was due to "deficiencies in the report" which "did not conform to our standards of fairness and balance."

"Joseph Morong's reassignment is not related to a report that aired on Saksi as some have speculated. Saksi producers wrote that report and Joseph was just asked to voice it," the network's news arm said.

"Unrelated to this, Joseph was given another assignment, a move which is common in most, if not all, newsrooms where reporters do not stay in one beat their entire careers."

Morong will also continue to anchor the online newscast Stand for Truth, the network also said in its statement.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

ARJO ATAYDE'S 'BAGMAN' COMING TO NETFLIX THIS JULY

MANILA – The 2019 action-drama series “Bagman" starring Kapamilya actor Arjo Atayde is coming to Netflix next month.

As teased by the streaming platform, the series will become available for viewing starting July 9.

An iWant original series, "Bagman" follows the story of Benjo, a neighborhood barber who landed a job as the governor's henchman and "gets caught up in a dangerous web of crime, corruption and political turmoil."

Produced by Dreamscape Digital and Rein Entertainment, “Bagman” also stars Alan Paule, Yayo Aguila, Chanel Latorre, and Raymond Bagatsing. It was directed by Shugo Praico.

Atayde was named best actor at the 2020 Asian Academy Creative Awards for his portrayal in "Bagman."

Just last February, Atayde renewed his contract with ABS-CBN in a virtual event billed as "Kapamilya Strong." He became emotional as he talked about being a proud Kapamilya.

"I am a Kapamilya. I am born to be a Kapamilya, and I will stay here no matter what. That's how I am," he said at the time.

SPORTS

NBA SCORES JUNE 26

FINAL

1          2          3          4          T

2 Suns3-1         29        21        19        15        84

4 Clippers1-3    20        16        30        14        80

GAME 4: PHO LEADS 3-1, STAPLES CENTER, LOS ANGELES, CA

SCORING LEADERS

D. Booker PHO

25 PTS 2 REBP. George LAC

23 PTS 16 REB 6 AST

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Men get opinions as boys learn to spell, by reiteration chiefly. - Elizabeth Barret Browning