DELTA SUBVARIANT NOT YET DETECTED IN PHILIPPINES , DOH SAYS
MANILA — The Department of Health has not detected Delta sublineage reported in Europe in its monitoring of COVID-19 cases in the country, the agency said Friday.
In a statement, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire also said that experts are still looking into the potential impact of the Delta AY.4.2. sublineage on transmissibility.
She added that health authorities are monitoring 46 sublineages of the Delta variant, but “the particular Delta sublineage has not yet been detected among the COVID-19 positive samples sequenced in the country.”
Earlier this week, the Britain reported that it was monitoring a subvariant of the AY.4.2 variant, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesman has said that there was no evidence it spreads more easily.
Francois Balloux, professor of computational systems biology at University College London, said AY.4.2 has two spike mutations found in other coronavirus variants and was first sequenced in April 2020.
He added: “AY.4.2 is still fairly low frequency, a 10 percent increase in its transmissibility could have caused only a small number of additional cases,” he added.
Vergeire for her part stressed that while investigation of the AY.4.2. sublineage is ongoing, “COVID-19 cases should be managed similarly as per current protocols.”
“Current evidence also showed that the presence or absence of a variant of interest or concern among cases do not dictate the appropriate clinical management,” she added.
DUTERTE REASSURES 'NERVOUS' DELA ROSA ON ICC INVESTIGATION
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said his former police chief, Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, is feeling anxious over the International Criminal Court’s inquiry into the administration's bloody campaign against illegal drugs.
Dela Rosa is the administration's standard-bearer for 2022, though he has said he would be willing to back out to make way for Duterte's daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
"Bato, he got nervous because was involved [and he oversaw Oplan] Tokhang," Duterte said in a speech delivered in Filipino before members of the government's anti-communist task force in Lucena City in Quezon. "I told him not to worry."
"If there is any person who is going to prison, it would be me. But it should be a Filipino court, manned by a Filipino judge and me prosecuted by a Filipino prosecutor."
As Duterte's first and longest-serving national police chief, Dela Rosa was the architect of the administration's so-called war on drugs. He also served as Davao City's top cop from 2013 to 2016 under Duterte who was mayor at the time.
The scope of the ICC investigation goes back as far as 2011, to include killings reportedly perpetrated by the Davao Death Squad.
"I will be the one who will be imprisoned. I already said before, I assume full responsibility," Duterte said. "That's why I told Bato...keep quiet there and just...point to me."
"I will answer for all," he vowed.
VP LENI PRESIDENTIAL BID NOT JUST FOR THE ELITE, SAYS PANGILINAN
The movement to elect Vice President Leni Robredo as the new president is not just for the rich, her running mate Sen. Francis Pangilinan said Friday.
"Hindi siguro (Not really)," Pangilinan told ANC's Headstart.
"I guess some are concerned and we respect that but once local officials start supporting VP Leni, and there have been quite a number already, that's not just pang-elite. The local officials are the most sensitive to the public pulse."
Iloilo Mayor Jerry Trenas and Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar S. Moreno earlier backed Robredo's candidacy, saying the vice president is capable of unifying the people.
Robredo, 56, earlier said she is taking on the challenge of running for president, citing the crucial need for decent leadership amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
After her announcement, the hashtag #LabanLeni2022 (FightLeni2022) became the top trending Philippine item on Twitter, while supporters posted photos of themselves on social media wearing pink, the color associated with Robredo.
Robredo will face at least four other presidential candidates including Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. whom she beat by a slim margin in the 2016 vice presidential contest.
In the interview, Pangilinan noted that frontrunners in pre-election surveys in the past 3 presidential elections ended up losing. He said Sen. Raul Roco, Sen. Manny Villar and Sen. Grace Poe were all frontrunners in 2004, 2010 and 2016 respectively.
"All the frontrunners ended up unable to sustain their leads in the polls. [Marcos] is ahead now but the poll that really matters is on May 9, 2022," he said.
POWER FIRMS FINED OVER MAXIMUM OUTAGE BREACH
MANILA — The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) has ordered the Energy Development Corp. (EDC), Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM) and SPC Island Power Corp. to pay fines for breaching maximum allowable outage days this year.
In separate orders issued on Sept. 8 but posted on its website on Oct. 19, the ERC found EDC, PSALM and SPC liable for having incurred unplanned outages more than the days allowed by the power regulator.
The commission directed the EDC to pay the administrative penalty of P1.022 million for incurring 22.64 days of unplanned outages of the Nasulo Geothermal Power Plant (NGPP) Unit 1, which is beyond the 13.7 days allowed for geothermal power plants.
NGPP Unit 1 went on forced shutdown from Jan. 3 to April 25 as it auto-tripped due to the activation of the main transformer surge relay. The NGPP Unit 1 has a rated capacity of 49.37 megawatts (MW).
On the other hand, PSALM was fined P980,400 for the excess unplanned outage of Unit 2 of Malaya Thermal Power Plant (MTPP) for 21.20 days.
The 350-MW MTPP Unit 2 was out for a total of 49 days but the annual maximum allowable unplanned outage was only 27.8 days for oil-fired thermal plants.
MTPP Unit 2 has been shut down since March 3 because of “encountering trouble with the generator automatic voltage regulator (AVR), having no excitation output voltage while attempting several times to synchronize the unit to the grid to conduct emission test/heat run test.”
The ERC said PSALM argued that the AVR assessment and repair “may no longer be necessary because of the successfully negotiated sale and privatization of the MTPP.”
PHARMALLY EXEC BLASTS SENATE BLUE RIBBON: THEY TREAT US LIKE CRIMINALS
MANILA -- Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. executive Mohit Dargani said the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee investigating their allegedly anomalous deals with the government failed to treat them fairly, after senators ordered their arrest for refusing to hand over subpoenaed documents.
“The Blue ribbon failed to treat us justly. Rather than impartially listening to us, they tried to get us to incriminate ourselves," he said.
"They want us detained because we asserted our rights, they can’t get what they want to hear from us."
Dargani, who serves as the company's corporate secretary, said they are being used for political gain.
"Malapit na eleksyon and we are like hostages. Hindi na para sa bayan. But for their political survival."
"They treat us like criminals whose lives aren’t worthy of living anymore," he said. "We tried our best to cooperate and respect them, but this was completely out of harmony with accepted legal standards," he added.
Dargani also said President Rodrigo Duterte had nothing to do with their deals with the procurement service of the Department of Budget and Management, which the Senate probed.
"Walang kinalaman ang Presidente sa transactions namin with PS-DBM," he said.
The statement, dated October 21, comes after the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee said it has been unsuccessful so far in its attempt to arrest Dargani and his sister Twinkle after they were not found in their registered addresses.
PDP-LABAN'S MATIBAG CALLS SENATE HEARING 'POLITICAL,' REMOVED FROM PROCEEDINGS
MANILA— A Senate panel on Thursday kicked out PDP-Laban Secretary-General Melvin Matibag from a hearing for raising his voice and calling the proceedings political.
This, after he was questioned for his supposed links with "syndicates" running in the Department of Energy (DOE). Lawmakers from the other PDP-Laban faction, Senator Manny Pacquiao and Aquilino Pimentel III, were present at the hearing.
The Senate Finance Subcommittee was questioning Matibag, head of the National Transmission Corporation (TransCo), for his alleged connections with the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (EIMOP).
Pacquiao said EIMOP is also behind operations of the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market (WESM) that is supposedly responsible for "hidden charges" when it comes to electricity bills.
Pacquiao and Matibag, officials of rival PDP-Laban factions, are currently locked in a powerplay for the party's control amid the upcoming national elections.
Matibag's faction is led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, who defended EIMOP's role in his agency's market operations at the Senate hearing.
"EIMOP is not part of DOE budget... As I have said, yes, EIMOP has the experience. The people of EIMOP has the accumulated experience to do the market operations, and they did it in accordance to the EPIRA Law, we follow the article of incorporation and by-laws were followed and it was done by election, by the industry stakeholders," Cusi explained during the hearing.
EIMOP was established by the DOE in 2018.
Because his name was dragged at the hearing, Matibag, who attended virtually, asked permission to explain his side and accused Pacquiao of politicizing the proceedings.
"Alam niyo let's call a spade a spade dito sa hearing na ito... This is all political Sen. Pacquiao, alam naman natin ito. Ito 'yung pinapasabi mo noong bago ka umalis eh. Noong umalis ka na sinasabi mo meron kang pasabog… 'wag tayong magmalinis dito," he explained.
Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, chairman of the committee, did not like Matibag's response and manner of speaking.
The lawmaker said Matibag was out of order and had him removed from the hybrid hearing.
"This is my committee. and you have no right to call this hearing a political hearing. This is a budget hearing. The senators are entitled to ask policy questions... so you have no right to call this a political hearing," Gatchalian said, as Matibag continued to try to speak over a muted mic.
"You are out of order. You are no longer recognized. We’ve given you a chance to answer the policy question but instead, you insulted this committee by calling this a political hearing?" said Gatchalian.
In a statement, Matibag apologized to the public for his temperament and said he respects the Senate.
He also described the hearing as "unfair."
PDP-LABAN WING EXEC SAYS CLUELESS ON REPORTED TALKS HE'LL BE NEXT COMELEC CHIEF
MANILA — The secretary general of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino – Lakas ng Bayan wing backed by President Rodrigo Duterte said he is clueless about reported talks that he is being eyed as the next Commission on Elections chairman.
“I don’t have any knowledge of that,” Melvin Matibag, secretary general of the PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi, said Friday.
Matibag was asked by reporters for his comment on a Politiko story that claimed that there are discussions that Duterte will appoint him to the Comelec and that he will likely be named as its chief.
The Comelec’s current chairman, Sheriff Abas, will retire in February 2022, paving the way for Duterte to appoint a new head for the poll body just three months before the crucial May 2022 elections which will determine who will lead a pandemic-battered Philippines.
Currently, six of the seven members of the Comelec are Duterte appointees, including its present chief, who was first appointed to the commission in 2015 by the late President Noynoy Aquino.
Of them, commissioners Aimee Ampoloquio, Marlon Casquejo, Socorro Inting and Michael Peloton hail from Davao City, Duterte’s bailiwick.
By February 2022, Duterte would have been able to appoint all members of the poll body as commissioners Rowena Guanzon and Antonio Kho would be stepping down.
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ISKO MORENO VOWS 50% FUEL, ELECTRICITY TAX CUT IF ELECTED
TARLAC CITY — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno yesterday urged the national government to lower the excise tax on electricity and petroleum products as this will translate into immediate and tangible economic relief for ordinary Filipinos, particularly farmers, fishermen and public utility vehicle drivers and operators.
Moreno made the call during a town hall meeting in Barangay Banaba here, where he met 100 farmers and agricultural workers to listen to their problems and suggestions on how to increase income and productivity.
He said that, if elected president next year, he is committed to cut the excise tax on petroleum products by 50 percent as this would directly benefit the poor and the middle class who have been at the receiving end of the weekly price increases of crude oil.
Moreno also plans for a 50-percent tax break on electricity to benefit consumers and business enterprises.
“To cushion the socio-economic impact of the pandemic, a 50-percent reduction in fuel excise tax can lower the power generation cost and another 50-percent cut on taxes on electricity would mean savings for the majority of our people, many of whom are jobless now due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
He noted that the positive effects of a tax cut on fuel would be immediately felt by operators and drivers of PUVs.
“If we implement a tax cut on gasoline and petroleum products, we can expect more jeepneys plying their routes and they will earn more since there will be more commuters who are going to their places of work. When drivers earn more, they will have more buying power and this will further perk up the economy,” he explained.
Moreno also said that a 50-percent tax cut on electricity would mean more food on the table and more money to spend on basic needs, including medicines.
ANG SAYS SAN MIGUEL HAS DISTRIBUTED OVER 2 MILLION NUTRIBUNS DURING PANDEMIC
MANILA - Over 2 million vitamin-enriched Nutribun bread have been produced and distributed by San Miguel Corp since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, its president Ramon Ang said Friday.
Nutribuns form part of its relief efforts to the poorest households who are impacted by the mobility restrictions to curb the spread of the disease.
"Our food relief efforts continue for vulnerable households more than a year into the pandemic. To date, we have produced over two million of our nutrient-packed breads which are distributed to struggling families in and around Metro Manila," Ang said.
"Ending hunger and changing the conditions that make food aid necessary is a formidable task. But even the smallest efforts -- when combined -- can make a big difference," he added.
Meanwhile, its feeding center in Tondo has been providing food aid to over 200,000 families living in the poorest districts in Manila, Ang said.
The food bank was earlier established by the businesses tycoon, who said he was also born and raised in the impoverished area in the country's capital.
The Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology said in 2020 it would launch an "enhanced" version of the nutribun to help struggling Filipinos meet their daily nutritional needs.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
PRE-WEDDING FILM OF TOM RODRIGUEZ, CARLA ABELLANA
MANILA -- The pre-wedding film of celebrity couple Tom Rodriguez and Carla Abellana is finally out.
Shot by Bob Nicolas, the video starts by showing Rodriguez and Abellana as artist and muse, respectively.
But instead of the finished sketch, the film shows the couple's sweet moments in an animated drawing effect.
Going back to reality, Rodriguez and Abellana are then seen frolicking in the garden until the final seconds of the 3-minute clip.
Re-posting their pre-wedding film on Instagram, Rodriguez praised Nicolas for "capturing our essence so succinctly."
"If only what was in my mind could come to life, it would be this video!" he said.
"This video depicts my literal musings with my real-life muse," added Rodriguez, who is also known as a visual artist.
Abellana and Rodriguez, who started out as an on-screen love team, have been together since 2014 and got engaged in March.
They have yet to reveal the date of their wedding.
SPORTS
NBA SCORES OCT 20
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Bulls1-0 14 26 31 23 94
Pistons0-1 20 24 25 19 88
LITTLE CAESARS ARENA, DETROIT, MI
SCORING LEADERS
Z. LaVine CHI
34 PTS 7 REB 4 AST
J. Grant DET
24 PTS 6 REB 2 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Pacers0-1 38 37 13 34 122
Hornets1-0 27 32 33 31 123
SPECTRUM CENTER, CHARLOTTE, NC
SCORING LEADERS
D. Sabonis IND
33 PTS 15 REB 2 AST
L. Ball CHA
31 PTS 9 REB 7 AST
FINAL/2OT
1 2 3 4 OT T
Celtics0-1 35 23 24 34 12 134
Knicks1-0 29 25 32 30 12 138
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, NEW YORK, NY
SCORING LEADERS
J. Brown BOS
46 PTS 9 REB 6 AST
J. Randle NY
35 PTS 8 REB 9 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Wizards1-0 26 31 24 17 98
Raptors0-1 18 19 22 24 83
SCOTIABANK ARENA, TORONTO, ON
SCORING LEADERS
B. Beal WAS
23 PTS 3 REB 4 AST
S. Barnes TOR
12 PTS 9 REB 1 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Cavaliers0-1 32 29 29 31 121
Grizzlies1-0 32 41 21 38 132
FEDEXFORUM, MEMPHIS, TN
SCORING LEADERS
J. Allen CLE
25 PTS 4 REB 1 AST
J. Morant MEM
37 PTS 6 REB 6 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Rockets0-1 21 24 26 35 106
Timberwolves1-0 32 40 27 25 124
TARGET CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
SCORING LEADERS
C. Wood HOU
16 PTS 9 REB 3 AST
K. Towns MIN
30 PTS 10 REB 2 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
76ers1-0 29 24 28 36 117
Pelicans0-1 25 28 17 27 97
SMOOTHIE KING CENTER, NEW ORLEANS, LA
SCORING LEADERS
F. Korkmaz PHI
22 PTS 5 AST
B. Ingram NO
25 PTS 7 REB 6 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Magic0-1 28 21 22 26 97
Spurs1-0 32 29 33 29 123
AT&T CENTER, SAN ANTONIO, TX
SCORING LEADERS
M. Bamba ORL
18 PTS 4 REB 4 AST
D. Vassell SA
19 PTS 2 REB 5 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Thunder0-1 18 24 21 23 86
Jazz1-0 27 27 29 24 107
VIVINT ARENA, SALT LAKE CITY, UT
SCORING LEADERS
S. Gilgeous-Alexander OKC
18 PTS 4 REB 2 AST
B. Bogdanovic UTA
22 PTS 4 REB 2 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Nuggets1-0 26 25 34 25 110
Suns0-1 20 38 24 16 98
FOOTPRINT CENTER, PHOENIX, AZ
SCORING LEADERS
N. Jokic DEN
27 PTS 13 REB 2 AST
M. Bridges PHO
16 PTS 5 REB
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Kings1-0 24 38 38 24 124
Trail Blazers0-1 23 26 36 36 121
MODA CENTER AT THE ROSE QUARTER, PORTLAND, OR
SCORING LEADERS
H. Barnes SAC
36 PTS 9 REB 2 AST
C. McCollum POR
34 PTS 6 REB 5 AST=
INDICATORS
FOREX $1 = P 50.81
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Success can feather our nest so comfortably that we forget how to fly. - Vance Havner
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