INOCULATION MILESTONE: PALACE SAYS 10 MILLION FULLY VACCINATED VS COVID-19

MANILA — The Philippines has fully immunized at least 10 million individuals against the novel coronavirus, Malacañang said on Thursday, the eve of Metro Manila's return to the strictest lockdown level to contain the more contagious Delta COVID-19 variant.

"We have reached a very important milestone in our national vaccination program," Palace spokesman Harry Roque said, 5 months after the inoculation drive started.

"Kung dati-rati po, nagkukumahog kung saan kukuha ng bakuna, ngayon po meron nang 10 milyong Pilipino na meron nang full protection laban sa kalaban natin na COVID-19," he said in a press briefing.

The national government will allot an additional 4 million to Metro Manila during the enhanced community quarantine, the toughest of 4 lockdown levels, from Aug. 6 to 20, Roque said.

"Sasamantalahin natin ang ECQ para lalo pa nating mapabilis po ang pagbabakuna," said the official.

The Philippines aims to vaccinate 58 to 70 million people this year to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19 and safely reopen the economy.

The Philippines has recorded more than 1.6 million coronavirus infections, the second highest in Delta-ravaged Southeast Asia, including nearly 28,000 deaths.

So far, it has confirmed more than 200 Delta infections, many of them local cases, and there are fears the more contagious strain could tear through the nation like it has in neighboring countries.

'NO OVERREGULATION' OF BUSINESSES UNDER LACSON-SOTTO ADMINISTRATION, SENATORS SAY

MANILA— There will be "no overregulation" for businesses under a Lacson-Sotto administration, the senators vying for the country's top posts in next year's polls said Thursday.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson said he would "leave the businesses sector alone and impose the laws" if he elected president.

"Offhand, there will be no overregulation. Sanay na sanay tayo, ang gobyerno natin gusto mag-overregulate para may grease money," he told ANC's Headstart.

"Kung may excess, sobra sa kanilang ginagawa (if they're doing something excessive) then that’s the only time government should come in."

Lacson also said government should cut spending when asked about the country's P11-trillion debt.

"First we have to balance the budget, to balance the budget you have to cut on spending and you raise taxes. 'Yung raising of taxes medyo (the raising of taxes is) out of the question... We have to focus on cutting on spending. 'Yung mga excessive expenditures na wasted (cut excessive expenditures that are wasted)," he said.

The country had an average gross borrowing of nearly P1 trillion from 2017 to 2019 and had annual appropriations of P331 billion on average, Lacson said.

"It doesn't make sense to borrow at least P1 trillion a year only to use P331 billion. There’s no sense... Review natin ang 'di nagagamit at medyo misused or abused tanggalin natin," said Lacson, among lawmakers who have been watchful of the national budget every cycle, questioning alleged insertions.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, his running mate, said they would know how to implement well the laws that they passed.

"We already passed the laws on helping the government. It’s a matter of implementing it well. We know these laws, kami ang nagpasa eh (we passed it)," he said.

LACSON, SOTTO REJECT 'DUTERTE ENABLER' TAG

MANILA - Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Thursday both denied enabling the Duterte administration, as they maintain that they are only "pro-Filipino."

Lacson and Sotto are running for president and vice president respectively in next year's election. They have presented themselves as alternative candidates, but were criticized over their affiliation with President Rodrigo Duterte and his policies.

"No, we're not pro-administration, we're not pro-opposition. We are pro-Filipino, that's first and foremost. It doesn’t mean that I’m friendly with the President or that we usually follow the administration line on some pieces of legislation, doesn’t mean na kami ay (that we are) an enabler," Sotto told ANC's Headstart when asked for a reaction on the "Duterte enabler" tag.

Sotto said they take this accusation "with a grain of salt" because "as long as it’s not true, I don’t see any problem."

When asked about it, Lacson also said they are "absolutely not" enablers. He said he has called out the administration a number of times and he has also praised Duterte "when there’s need to praise him."

"If you call that an enabler, then so be it," he said.

"I’ve always followed a personal credo: what is right must be kept right; what is wrong must be set right. Pag sinabi mong dun ka lang sa tama at nagkataon namang tama yung tao, ba’t hindi mo purihin? Kung mali naman, you call him out or you criticize him, hoping that he will listen," he said.

Only Lacson and Sotto have so far confirmed their candidacies for the 2022 elections. They said they see no problem in announcing their plans this early despite the possibility of facing heat from potential competition.

"We’re ready for anything…Napag-usapan na namin na wala nang pagkukunwari (We discussed that we won't pretend). Anyway, we have decided finally that we’ll go for it. Let’s do this," Lacson said.

Sotto added: "We have nothing to hide. We’re probably 2 political animals—if you could call us that—that have nothing to hide. Bilad na bilad kami sa buong bansa, kilalang kilala kami (We're exposed to the whole country, very well-known). They can throw even the kitchen sink and it wouldn’t matter because our records speak for itself."

Sotto said they take this accusation "with a grain of salt" because "as long as it’s not true, I don’t see any problem."

SEA ROW MUST BE RESOLVED BASED ON UNCLOS – LOCSIN

MANILA — The disputes in the South China Sea should be resolved peacefully in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 arbitral award, the Philippines’ top diplomat said.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. raised the South China Sea issue and the ruling in favor of the Philippines during the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference Session with China on Tuesday attended by his ASEAN counterparts and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

“A peaceful South China Sea is essential to its protection and sustainable management. Disputes in it should be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS and in recent light of the 2016 Arbitral Award which singles out no one, was carefully crafted as to be unusable as a weapon for disputation and most helpful in clarifying maritime issues,” Locsin said.

He noted that Scandinavian countries are now invoking the award.

VP ROBREDO 'DEFINITELY OPEN TO RUNNING, RESISTED UNIFICATION' IN 2022 POLLS: LACSON

MANILA - Vice President Leni Robredo is "definitely open" to running in next year's elections as she rejected a "unification formula" against the administration, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Thursday.

Lacson, who said he would be vying for the presidency, earlier met with Robredo.

"The gist of the discussion was unification, put up a common candidate if possible against the administration. I offered her a sure unification effort or formula," he told ANC's Headstart.

"She resisted. Hindi siya sold dun sa (She was not sold on the) idea but it was a sure formula putting up at least between the two of us a common candidate. Unfortunately, she didn’t buy it. Definitely, she is open to running."

Robredo is "definitely open to running for President," her spokesman, lawyer Barry Gutierrez said in a statement.

"She has made this clear several times, and despite claims from some quarters to the contrary, her determination on this remains firm. Second, supporting anyone else for President is not yet being considered. The first option is still very clearly for VP Leni to run," he said.

Robredo had previously said there should only be one opposition candidate in next year's polls.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III, meantime, said Senator Grace Poe would support them if she would not run in the 2022 elections.

"We just had dinner with her last night, is that a good enough answer?" he said.

"If she will not run, she will support us," he added when pressed for details.

COURT REJECTS APPEAL TO OVERTURN ACQUITTAL OF AETA FARMERS IN ANTI-TERROR CASE

MANILA — An Olongapo court denied the prosecution’s appeal to overturn the acquittal of Aeta farmers Japer Gurung and Junion Ramos on violation of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020.

Olongapo Regional Trial Court Branch 97 Presiding Judge Melani Fay Tadili junked the prosecution’s motion for reconsideration for lack of merit.

The court in July granted Gurung and Ramos’ Demurrer to Evidence, a legal challenged to the sufficiency of prosecution evidence. Judge Tadili held that “the prosecution failed to discharge the burden of providing the identities of the accused as the perpetrators of the crime of violation of Section 4 of [Republic Act 11479].”

In dismissing the prosecution’s appeal, the court said that the grant of the accused’s demurrer to evidence “operates as an acquittal and thus, reconsideration of the same will subject them to double jeopardy.”

The Constitution prohibits that a person is put in jeopardy of punishment for the same offense. Double jeopardy means having the accused answer twice for the same offense.

In an order dated July 27 but made public only on Wednesday night, the court said the prosecution had “wanted the Court to review the records again, reconsider the grant of demurrer to evidence and proceed to hear the evidence for the defense.”

But the court said that in the case against Gurung and Ramos, the elements of double jeopardy are present.

PALACE ORDERS SKELETAL WORKFORCE IN GOVERNMENT OFFICES

MANILA — Government offices in Metro Manila will remain fully operational but with limited workforces during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), Malacañang announced yesterday.

In a memorandum, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea ordered government agencies to reduce to not less than 20 percent the number of employees who will physically report for work during the two-week ECQ.

“To ensure continuity of government service, the skeleton workforce will not be less than 20 percent on-site capacity at any given time, with the remainder being under work-from-home arrangements,” the memo read.

Medialdea said agencies providing health and emergency frontline services, laboratory and testing services, border controls as well as other critical services would be allowed up to full on-site capacity.

This is the third time that Metro Manila will be under ECQ since the COVID-19 pandemic struck last year.

Meanwhile, the Valenzuela city hall will operate on a reduced capacity during the lockdown, Mayor Rex Gatchalian said.

PNP, NBI, DTI TO PROBE CEBU OXYGEN HOARDING

MANILA — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar ordered yesterday an investigation into alleged hoarding of oxygen tanks and other medical supplies amid the threat posed by the highly infectious Delta variant of COVID-19.

Eleazar issued the directive after Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama asked the PNP and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to look into such reports.

“I have directed the Cebu City police and regional Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to coordinate with the DTI office in the area,” Eleazar said.

He said other police units should check if there are similar incidents in their areas as he stressed the need to ensure a sufficient supply of oxygen tanks in hospitals.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) would assist the PNP and DTI in their probe.

He said the NBI would help in running after and prosecuting hoarders not only in Cebu but also in other areas where COVID cases are high.

Guevarra noted that the NBI was directed to conduct an investigation of alleged hoarding and overpricing of medical supplies last year.

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PNP BARS INTER-CITY TRAVEL FOR CONSUMERS

MANILA — Consumers in the National Capital Region will be barred from crossing town or city borders once the NCR is placed under the strictest enhanced community quarantine or ECQ beginning tomorrow, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said yesterday.

Every city in Metro Manila will be considered a “tiny bubble” where consumers with quarantine passes will be prohibited from crossing borders, according to Eleazar.

“From one large bubble, including the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal, the NCR will shift to tiny bubbles,” Eleazar said.

Police have put up checkpoints in 16 cities and the municipality of Pateros to restrict the movement of people during the two-week lockdown.

Eleazar said consumers would have to buy essential goods in their respective localities while the ECQ is in place.

Police have put up checkpoints in 16 cities and the municipality of Pateros to restrict the movement of people during the two-week lockdown.

Eleazar said consumers would have to buy essential goods in their respective localities while the ECQ is in place.

“Hindi puwedeng mag-cross ng borders. Meaning to say, kung taga Pasay ka, hindi ka puwede pumunta sa Quezon City or Caloocan to buy groceries,” Eleazar said in an interview on Teleradyo.

People who will buy essential goods must have quarantine passes, Eleazar added.

“It is up to local government units whether their constituents can use old quarantine passes or they would issue new ones,” he said.

NEWBORN, 7 OTHER KIDS ADMITTED FOR COVID-19 AT PGH: SPOKESMAN

MANILA - A newborn and 7 other children up to 15 years old are admitted at the Philippine General Hospital for COVID-19, its spokesperson said Thursday.

The newborn was referred to the PGH for treatment for a heart abnormality and was found to be positive for COVID-19, PGH spokesman Dr. Jonas del Rosario said.

The child's mother tested negative for COVID-19, he added.

"Anim po sa walo ay still considered either severe or critical. Dalawa po doon ay moderate, tatlo po ang intubated o nasa ventilator, ang iba po ay nangangailangan ng some oxygen support," he told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo.

The hospital has yet to receive the genome sequencing results of the children, according to Del Rosario. The PGH previously reported 21 Delta cases.

The spokesman also clarified a social media post attributed to him that states some children with severe COVID-19 are forced to stay home because PGH can no longer accommodate them.

OXYGEN SUPPLY SA METRO MANILA, SAPAT PA

MAYNILA - Wala pang kakulangan sa supply ng oxygen tank sa Metro Manila sa kabila ng pagtaas ng kaso ng COVID-19 na posibleng dulot ng mas nakahahawang Delta variant.

“Kahit itong huling ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) marami namang dumating na oxygen tanks hanggang ngayong araw na ito hindi naman tayo nagkakaroon ng shortage pagdating sa tangke dito sa NCR,” ayon kay Adrien Alon-Alon, may-ari ng Caremart Medical Supplies.

Sa panayam sa TeleRadyo Huwebes ng umaga, sinabi ni Alon-Alon na kahit pa mayroong surge ng kaso ng COVID-19 ay hindi sila nagtataas ng presyo.

“Kami, kahit may surge, hindi kami nagtataas ng price kasi hindi naman kinakapos ang demand,” sabi niya.

Hiniling din niya sa kapwa na nasa tulad na negosyo na huwag manamantala.

“Wag tayong mag take advantage, tulong-tulong kasi hindi ito malulutas by overpricing, paano yung mga nangangailangan, they really badly need it na oxygen tatagain pa nila kawawa naman,” sabi niya.

ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE

SINGER RIHANNA IS OFFICIALLY A BILLIONAIRE, FORBES SAYS

Pop star Rihanna’s net worth is estimated at $1.7 billion, making her the richest woman musician in the world, but her music is not the primary source of her wealth, Forbes magazine said on Wednesday.

The Barbados-born singer, whose birth name is Robyn Fenty, derives an estimated $1.4 billion of her fortune from her 50% stake in the Fenty Beauty cosmetics line, Forbes reported.

The rest of Rihanna’s wealth comes from her share of the Savage x Fenty lingerie company and her income as a singer and actress, the magazine said.

Rihanna’s beauty company, of which LVMH owns the other half, is known for its broad range of 50 skin tones, including dark shades for women of color, which were rare when it launched in 2017. This made it a leader in inclusivity in the industry.

The singer of “Umbrella” and “Love the Way You Lie” ranks second behind Oprah as the richest female entertainer, Forbes said.

SPORTS

OLYMPICS: PAALAM, MARCIAL GUN FOR GOLD MEDAL MATCH

Already assured of bronze medals, Eumir Marcial and Carlo Paalam look to march to the gold medal match of their respective divisions as they resume their Olympic campaigns on Thursday at the Kokugikan Arena.

Another win will assure the flyweight Paalam and middleweight Marcial of silver medals, and two wins will give them the ultimate prize.

However, tough assignments await them in the fourth to the last day of boxing in Tokyo.

Marcial is up against the top-seed in his division, Ukraine's Oleksandr Khyzhniak. The pair has history, with Khyzhniak dealing Marcial a loss at the Strandja International in Bulgaria in 2019.

"Talo si Eumir sa Strandja. Inayaw ko dahil na-injure si Eumir," explained national team coach Ronald Chavez, who assured that the result of the Bulgaria showdown will not be indicative of the rematch.

Coach Don Abnett also stressed that Marcial is much stronger now. Indeed, the Zamboanga City native has won his first two matches in Tokyo in abbreviated fashion, including a brutal stoppage of Arman Darchinyan in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, Paalam will be up against a hometown bet in Ryomei Tanaka.

The 23-year-old has had a superb campaign already, as he scored one of the biggest upsets of the Tokyo Games with his conquest of Rio Games gold medalist Shakhobidin Zoirov of Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals.

"We are overjoyed with Carlo's win over the Rio gold medalist," said Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines president Ricky Vargas.

"It was an upset that the coaching staff told me was imminent, but we were still concerned until Carlo came out smoking in the first round. He truly looked like a champion," Vargas added.

Paalam will be the first to be up in the ring at 2:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. in Manila). Marcial clashes with the Ukrainian at 3:03 p.m.

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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done. - Henry W. Longfellow