'HE DOES NOT CONTROL ME': DUTERTE SAYS HE NEEDS BONG GO AS SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE CHAIR
MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte denied allegations that he is being controlled by his longtime aide Senator Christopher "Bong" Go.
According to Duterte, Go is needed in the weekly meeting with the Cabinet members as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.
"Kailangan ko si Bong actually, hindi sa lahat, pero si Bong is actually the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography. Health kanya eh, so mabuti na lang siya nandito," he said in a taped briefing aired late Monday.
"But he does not control anybody. He does not control me. He is here to do his duty, na may matanungan tayo agad (so we have someone we can ask)," Duterte added.
Earlier on Monday, retired military general Antonio Parlade, known for his stint as the mouthpiece of the government's anti-insurgency task force, filed his candidacy for president next year, as substitute of Katipunan ng Demokratikong Pilipino (KDP) party.
He said he does not align with Go, whom he accused of controlling Duterte.
"I cannot align with SBG, I'm sorry. But kasama siya sa problema ng bayan natin... I just don’t like the way he does things, including controlling the decisions of the president," Parlade has said.
Go has denied the allegation.
GLASGOW CLIMATE PACT LEAVES FILIPINO ACTIVISTS DISAPPOINTED
GLASGOW, United Kingdom — The major agreement sealed on Saturday that sought to keep the goal of limiting global warming alive to 1.5 degrees Celsius left observers dismayed as it fell short of providing the funds needed by vulnerable countries to deal with the catastrophic impacts of climate change.
The Glasgow Climate Pact, signed by 200 nations after two weeks of intense negotiations, called on countries to reduce the use of coal for the first time in the history of the UN-brokered talks. It also urged governments to boost their plans to curb planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions sooner.
But the conference ended with last-minute objections from coal-dependent countries China and India who wanted the language on coal watered down from “phase out” to “phase down.”
The pact does not also reflect a commitment from developed countries to pay the long-overdue financial pledge of $100 billion per year.
Although the deal urged rich nations to “at least double” the funding to help developing countries like the Philippines adapt to climate change impacts, it was criticized for not doing enough.
Tony La Viña, a negotiator in previous climate talks, called the outcome of the climate negotiations held in the Scottish city of Glasgow a “disappointment.”
“While advances were made, they do not go far enough. What was agreed was the bare minimum and not the maximum possibles,” he said.
“The long, drawn-out negotiations ended in a deal that allows developed country governments to sidestep their responsibility to deliver their fair share of climate action and settle their climate debt,” said Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development coordinator Lidy Nacpil.
Jon Bonifacio, an activist with Fridays for Future and Youth for Climate Action Philippines, said the Glasgow agreement “did little to ascertain our present and future when it comes to the climate crisis.”
“This means we keep fighting, at the international, national, all the way to the community level to make sure that we are heard and that we are not ignored,” he said.
PHILIPPINES OKS BOOSTER SHOTS FOR HEALTH WORKERS STARTING NOV. 17
MANILA — Health workers fully vaccinated for COVID-19 can begin getting booster shots starting November 17, the Department of Health announced Monday night.
The agency's pronouncement came as it said the Food and Drug Administration had issued an emergency use authorization for the booster doses.
Authorities approved last month a government panel's recommendation to administer the shots by end of this year.
DOH in a statement said it recommends using Moderna, Pfizer, and Sinovac as booster doses "regardless of the brand used for the primary series."
"Sinovac will also be offered as a booster for those that had Sinovac as primary series," it added.Officials said final guidelines for the efforts would be released by the National Vaccine Operations Center later today.
The Philippines began its inoculation drive in March, then struggling with issues on supply of the jabs, vaccine hesitancy, and twice a resurgence in coronavirus cases.
Eight months later, some 31.57 million have since completed their COVID-19 shots.
That translates to 40.93% of the government's target of inoculating 77.13 million this year.
DUTERTE SCRAPS FACE SHIELD REQUIREMENT FOR AREAS UNDER LOW COVID-19 ALERT LEVEL
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday approved the pandemic task force's recommendation to ease national policy on the use of face shields.
Per a memo signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea earlier this day, the following protocols on face shields will be implemented immediately:
• Mandatory use of face shields for areas under Alert Level 5 and granular lockdowns
• For areas under Alert Level 4, local government units and private establishments are given discretion to mandate use of face shields
• Face shields are no longer required, to be worn on a voluntary basis for areas under Alert Levels 3, 2, and 1
"The above protocols are without prejudice to the continuing mandatory use of face shields in medical and quarantine facilities, and the required use thereof by healthcare workers in healthcare settings," the memo reads.
SOTTO NOT CHANGING 'CARPET BOMBING' CAMPAIGN PLAN AMID SARA CANDIDACY
MANILA – Vice presidential aspirant Vicente “Tito” Sotto III is not changing his campaign strategy, even as Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is running to be his opponent in the 2022 polls.
Sotto topped the latest Social Weather Stations survey on preferred vice-presidential candidates, with 44 percent of respondents saying they would vote for him. Duterte-Carpio is in second place with 25 percent.
“No, we will still go on with what we’re doing. We are in--you know it’s very difficult to describe in English ano, but in Tagalog, what our group is doing is naglalatag kami,” he said on ANC’s “Headstart.”
“Nakalatag, we have three major political parties in our group, and we are consolidating our forces. Naglalatag kami nationwide nung aming mga organizations.”
“We have the Reporma Party, the chairman of which is Senator Lacson and the president is [former] Speaker Bebot Alvarez. And then we have the National Unity party, the chairman is Ronnie Puno and the president is Congressman (Elpidio) Barzaga. And then we have the Nationalist People’s Coalition of which I am chairman, and again also we are consolidating the forces of NPC,” he explained.
“Kumbaga sa ano eh, parang carpet bombing of these three political parties nationwide,” he added.
Sotto answered in the affirmative when asked if he considers Duterte-Carpio his most formidable opponent in the 2022 elections.
He said, however, that other candidates are worthy opponents as well.
“Well yes, and of course you have to give it to the other candidates, they will all be campaigning.”
“So, everyone is a worthy candidate. I think all of the, those who have filed their certificates of candidacy are worthy candidates,” he said.
'TO EACH HIS OWN': SOTTO SAYS UNBOTHERED BY KIKO’S VP CANDIDACY
MANILA – Vice presidential aspirant Vicente “Tito” Sotto III is not bothered by Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan running against him in the 2022 elections.
Sotto is married to Helen Gamboa, aunt of Pangilinan's wife, Sharon Cuneta.
Pangilinan himself said he hopes to reconcile with Sotto after the elections, after Cuneta acknowledged a rift in their family amid the competing vice presidential bids of their two relatives.
“Well, to each his own. That question would better be asked my wife and my children. They have a different perspective as far as I’m concerned,” Sotto said.
“Sa akin I brush it off. To them it’s a big deal,” he said, adding: "I would be bothered if it’s Vic Sotto or Joey de Leon."
Actress-singer Ciara Sotto, the daughter of Sen. Sotto and Gamboa, had earlier expressed hurt and disappointment with Pangilinan’s vice-presidential bid, saying the move made her “feel that my parents were of no value after all.”
Sotto took the same tone when asked about his niece Paulina openly expressing her support for Vice President Leni Robredo’s presidential bid.
“Well, to each his own. As I said.”
Sotto said differing political views among members of his family do not disturb him.
LA UNION COURT JUNKS DRUG CHARGE VS JULIAN ONGPIN
MANILA — A La Union court has junked the illegal possession of drugs charge against Julian Ongpin, son of one of the Philippines' prominent tycoons.
The San Fernando City, La Union Regional Trial Court Branch 27 based the dismissal on the police’s failure to comply with the chain of custody requirements under section 21 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act (RA 9165).
“[A]fter an independent assessment of the evidence on record which includes Resolution dated October 18, 2021 and supporting evidence, the Court is constrained to dismiss Criminal Case No. 14154 for lack of probable cause to issue warrant of arrest against accused Julian Roberto Ongpin y Stone, in view of the utter non-compliance of the requirements of Sec. 21 of R.A. 9165,” Judge Romeo Agacita, Jr. said in an order Monday.
Section 21 requires authorities to conduct an inventory of the seized illegal drugs in the presence of the accused or his/her representative or counsel with witnesses from the media or the Department of Justice and any elected public official.
The purpose is to ensure the identity and the integrity of the drugs seized against possible claims of planting of evidence.
The La Union court found that the police failed to comply with the first stage in the chain of custody rule on marking of evidence.
It said the alleged drugs were not immediately marked when they were seized, which created doubt as to the evidentiary value and integrity of the seized items.
The court also said there were no witnesses from the media, DOJ or an elected public official when the marking and inventory were conducted.
PAG REGISTER SA 'ONE HEALTH PASS,' IWAS ABALA SA MGA OFW, BANYAGA SA AIRPORT: BOQ
MAYNILA - Inaasahan na mas maraming Pilipino ang uuwi sa bansa para magdiwang ng Pasko kasama ang kanilang mga mahal sa buhay.
Pero payo ng Bureau of Quarantine sa mga nagbabalak na umuwing Pilipino, mapa-overseas worker man o banyaga, agahan ang pagrehistro sa https://onehealthpass.com.ph.
“Expected natin na marami tayong mga kababayan na uuwi dahil magpa-Pasko. Para po smooth ang pagdating, wala kayong problem pagdating sa airport natin, mag register po lahat ng pauwi doon sa onehealthpass.com.ph,” sabi ni BOQ Deputy Director, Dr. Roberto Salvador.
Sa panayam sa TeleRadyo Martes ng umaga, sinabi ni Salvador na ang portal ay para sa lahat ng paparating sa bansa.
“Once na makakumpleto kayo ng registration masisigurado po namin na in less than 10 minutes mapo-proseso kayo sa airport, hindi kayo madedelay,” sabi niya.
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PHILIPPINES POSTS 1,547 MORE COVID-19 CASES, 4.1 PCT POSITIVITY RATE
MANILA - The Philippines on Monday announced 1,547 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest daily tally in six days, and a positivity rate of 4.1 percent, data from the health department showed.
Of the total 2,818,511 recorded cases since the pandemic reached the country, 27,025 or 1 percent are active infections, according to the latest Department of Health (DOH) bulletin.
The number of active cases is the lowest in nearly 9 months, or since Feb. 22 when 26,519 active infections were recorded, said the ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group, citing DOH data with duplicates removed.
COVID-related deaths increased by 128 to 45,709. This is the lowest in 5 days or since Nov. 10 when the country reported 99 deaths, the ABS-CBN IRG said.
The DOH also reported 2,601 more recoveries, raising the total number of recuperations to 2,745,777.
NEW PNP CHIEF PROMISES 'FINALE VERSION 2022' IN 'WAR ON DRUGS'
MANILA — Police Gen. Dionardo Carlos, the new Philippine National Police chief, promised continuity in the PNP as he said that Oplan Double Barrel, the PNP's flagship project in the administration's "war against drugs", will continue during his term.
"The Oplan Double Barrel, that will continue," he said in Filipino in a video statement sent to reporters Monday. "This time around, I'll call it the Finale Version 2022."
Under the final stretch of the Duterte administration's so-called drug war, Carlos said he wanted to focus on the PNP's coordination with other law-enforcement bodies such as the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Carlos in a separate radio interview Monday made a similar promise, saying "Oplan Tokhang Double Barrel" may not continue anymore.
"We might no longer see such activities. This is more on reaching out to the victims or the addicts to recover.
"The focus of this final version is the barangay development program which will strengthen the BADACs with the presence of the police in the barangays. They will act as partners in the supervision of the force multiplier and our fellows in various communities," he said at a press briefing in Filipino.
SERVER OVERLOAD, LATE REMITTANCES DELAYED CONFIRMATION EMAILS FOR PASSPORT APPOINTMENTS — DFA
MANILA — Overloading of servers and late remittance of payments have caused delays in the transmission of confirmation emails for passport appointments, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
The DFA said its Office of Consular Affairs is working to resolve the issues on the booking of passport appointments.
"The delay in the transmission of confirmation emails is likely caused by the overloading of servers, compounded by the late remittance of payments made through the over-the-counter payment mode," the DFA said in a statement released Tuesday.
The agency added that it is targeting to send out all application details of those who have appointments for November 14 to 20 by Tuesday, November 16.
For applicants scheduled from the week of November 21, the DFA said applicants would receive their confirmation emails within at least two days. A congestion in the system caused the delay, it added.
"Please note that only booked appointments that were successfully paid online will be confirmed and shall receive the application packets," the DFA said.
"If no proof of payment and/or payment reference code was received, this means that there is no confirmed appointment," it added.
Applicants who have received their confirmation email beyond their appointment date will be rescheduled within 30 days from the receipt of email from the DFA.
"DFA-OCA apologizes sincerely to its clients for the inconvenience and disruption caused by this technical issue, and requests the public's continued patience as the DFA-OCA continues to find ways and exerts all efforts to improve the delivery of its services," the DFA said.
3 SCHOOLS SUSPEND IN-PERSON CLASSES
MANILA — The pilot in-person classes in three public schools in Zambales were suspended yesterday after some teachers tested positive for COVID in an antigen test.
The School Division of Zambales said the antigen test was conducted on Sunday at the San Marcelino National High School and Baliwet Elementary School, both located in San Marcelino town.
The Banawen Elementary School in nearby San Felipe town also deferred the in-person classes as some teachers were still waiting for the results of their antigen tests.
The antigen testing was among the requirements set under a memorandum of agreement signed between the school officials and local government units to ensure the safety of indigenous people communities from COVID, according to the Department of Education (DepEd).
“The School Division superintendent gave assurance that classes would begin in these schools once teachers and other personnel test negative for COVID,” DepEd said in a statement.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
ARE JENNYLYN AND DENNIS FINALLY MARRIED? PHOTO SHOWS THEM IN MATCHING WEDDING SUITS
MANILA — Have Jennlyn Mercado and Dennis Trillo finally tied the knot, after nearly eight years as a couple?
This was the question among the celebrity couple’s followers Monday night, as a photo of them in matching wedding suits, apparently taken during a ceremony, circulated on social media.
Congratulatory messages also flooded Mercado’s verified Facebook page, which appears to have posted the photo on Monday evening before it was taken down an hour later.
ABS-CBN News has tried to seek confirmation from the respective managers of Mercado and Trillo, but has yet to receive a response.
If they indeed exchanged wedding vows on Monday, the milestone comes only a few weeks after Mercado, 34, and Trillo, 40, announced their engagement and the actress’ pregnancy in late October.
The baby is their first together.
Both have respective teenage sons from their previous relationships. Mercado has Alex Jazz with actor Patrick Garcia, while Trillo has Calix with former actress Carlene Aguilar.
Mercado and Trillo had long been trying to get pregnant via surrogacy, due to the actress’ past difficulty conceiving.
They, however, were pleasantly surprised early this year by Mercado’s natural pregnancy.
SPORTS
NBA SCORES NOV 14
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Spurs4-9 29 26 24 27 106
Lakers8-6 34 26 30 24 114
STAPLES CENTER, LOS ANGELES, CA
SCORING LEADERS
K. Johnson SA
24 PTS 6 REB 2 AST
A. Davis LAL
34 PTS 15 REB 6 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Bucks6-8 24 20 33 23 100
Hawks5-9 32 26 31 31 120
STATE FARM ARENA, ATLANTA, GA
SCORING LEADERS
G. Antetokounmpo MIL
26 PTS 5 REB 6 AST
T. Young ATL
42 PTS 8 REB 10 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Nets10-4 30 31 29 30 120
Thunder5-7 25 23 26 22 96
PAYCOM CENTER, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
SCORING LEADERS
K. Durant BKN
33 PTS 8 REB 4 AST
S. Gilgeous-Alexander OKC
23 PTS 6 REB 2 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Warriors11-2 27 30 31 14 102
Hornets8-7 30 27 30 19 106
SPECTRUM CENTER, CHARLOTTE, NC
SCORING LEADERS
A. Wiggins GS
28 PTS 6 REB 2 AST
M. Bridges CHA
22 PTS 8 REB 3 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Suns9-3 27 24 29 35 115
Rockets1-12 23 21 19 26 89
TOYOTA CENTER, HOUSTON, TX
SCORING LEADERS
D. Booker PHO
26 PTS 5 REB 6 AST
C. Wood HOU
17 PTS 8 REB 1 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Trail Blazers6-8 18 35 26 16 95
Nuggets9-4 33 34 24 33 124
BALL ARENA, DENVER, CO
SCORING LEADERS
C. McCollum POR
21 PTS 2 REB 2 AST
N. Jokic DEN
28 PTS 9 REB 9 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Bulls9-4 30 24 23 23 100
Clippers8-5 17 28 26 19 90
STAPLES CENTER, LOS ANGELES, CA
SCORING LEADERS
D. DeRozan CHI
35 PTS 7 REB 5 AST
P. George LAC
27 PTS 11 REB 4 AST
INDICATORS
FOREX $1 = P 50.19
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Forgive others, not because they deserve forgiveness, but because you deserve peace. - Jonathan Lockwood Huie
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