DUTERTE THREATENS UNVACCINATED PEOPLE WITH ARREST
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte said on Thursday people who have not taken COVID-19 shots will be arrested if they disobeyed stay-at-home orders as infections hit a three-month high.
Duterte in a televised address to the nation said he was asking community leaders to look for unvaccinated people and make sure they were confined to their homes.
“If he refuses, if he goes out his house and goes around the community, he can be restrained. If he refuses, the captain is empowered now to arrest recalcitrant persons,” Duterte said.
Daily coronavirus infections in the Philippines hit the highest since Sept. 26 at 17,220 cases on Thursday, the health ministry said, including those caused by the Omicron variant of COVID-19.
The tally, which was more than triple recorded on Tuesday brought total cases to over 2.88 million, and deaths to more than 51,700, the second highest COVID-19 infections and casualties in Southeast Asia, next to Indonesia.
“I am responsible for the safety and well-being of every Filipino,” Duterte said as he challenged those who disapprove of his directive to file a case against him.
At the end of last year, 49.8 million people had been fully vaccinated, or 45% of the country’s 110 million people. Under existing rules unvaccinated people in the capital region of Manila can only step out of their homes for essential trips.
Duterte is known for his bellicose rhetoric. Last year, he threatened people who refuse to get inoculated with jail or an injection of Ivermectin, an anti-parasite drug widely used to treat animals.
But his latest remarks underscored his government’s growing concerns over the rising number of COVID-19 cases which health experts warn could overwhelm the country’s health systems again.
The Philippines has so far detected 43 domestic and imported cases of Omicron, prompting the government to tighten curbs this week.
The President said those who disagree with the directive "can file cases."
"I’ll be happy to answer. Meron naman akong kaso sa ICC, eh 'di ipatong na ninyo, para isang sagutan na lang pagdating ng panahon," he said, referring to the International Criminal Court's inquiry into his drug war.
"I hate to say this word, these words. Pero (But) being the President, ultimately, I am responsible for the safety and well-being of every Filipino," Duterte said.
DUTERTE SIGNS LAW PROHIBITING CHILD MARRIAGE
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed into a law a measure banning child marriage, a policy seen to protect children from abusive practices and unwanted responsibilities.
Republic Act No. 11596 or An Act Prohibiting the Practice of Child Marriage and Imposing Penalties for Violations Thereof was signed into law last December 10, documents released by Malacañang showed.
According to the law, the state affirms that marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of capacitated parties, and child betrothal and marriage shall have no legal effect.
Under the law, any person who causes, fixes, facilitates, or arranges a child marriage shall suffer the penalty of prision mayor in its medium period or imprisonment of eight years and one day to ten years and a fine of not less than P40,000. If the violator is an ascendant, parent, adoptive parent, step parent, or guardian of the child, the penalty will be prision mayor in its maximum period or imprisonment of ten years and one day to 12 years, a fine of not less than P50,000, and perpetual loss of parental authority.
Any person who produces, prints, issues or distributes fraudulent or tampered documents such as birth certificates, affidavits of delayed registration of birth or foundling certificates to misrepresent the age of a child to facilitate child marriage or evade liability under the act shall also be liable under the law without prejudice to liability under other laws.
Any person who performs or officiates a child marriage shall be slapped with the penalty of prision mayor in its maximum period or imprisonment of ten years and one day to 12 years and a fine of not less than P50,000.
DUQUE SAYS DOH PREPARING FOR 'WORST CASE SCENARIO' AS COVID-19 CASES SPIKE
MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday said it is preparing for the "worst case scenario" in the country's pandemic situation amid the rise in new COVID-19 cases, most likely driven by the more transmissible omicron variant.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said they are prepared to source health care workers from different sectors to aid in the virus fight.
This includes, he said, post-graduate interns and health care workers from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.
"Post graduate interns... are being asked by the hospitals where they finish their internship to help, volunteer. Mayroon na po tayong programang ganun to help with our regular human resource for health and we also have an augmentation program," Duque told President Rodrigo Duterte in a taped meeting.
"We are making sure that all available healthcare professionals will be on deck and prepare for the worst case scenario," the health chief added.
Aside from these, Duque said if hospitals in Metro Manila become overwhelmed again due to the high number of people testing positive for COVID-19, his agency would deploy health frontliners from the different parts of the country.
"Tama po kayo sir (you are correct), we really have to prepare for the worst case scenario and that's exactly what we have started to do."
COMELEC SAYS CANDIDATES MUST REGISTER VERIFIED ONLINE ACCOUNTS BY JAN. 31
MANILA -- The Commission on Elections has issued a resolution clarifying its rule on political ads posted online and on social media.
In Resolution No. 10748, the Comelec en banc said parties and candidates must register on or before January 31 all their verified accounts and sites, and those that will subsequently be verified, that are being or shall be used in election-related propaganda.
The poll body reiterated anew that only verified accounts and sites may run election-related propaganda, subject to the policies of the platforms.
The Comelec has previously said that only platform-verified accounts “may run electoral ads, and boost or promote electoral posts."
An election lawyer, however, has called this rule "unconstitutional," saying he hopes that Comelec will reconsider its "arbitrary" policy.
HOUSE ON EXTENDED LOCKDOWN; 2 SENATORS CATCH COVID-19
MANILA — The House of Representatives will remain on lockdown until next week amid increasing COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco (Marinduque) said Friday.
In a statement, Velasco said they decided to extend the lockdown until January 16 "as a precautionary measure to protect the health and safety of House members and employees in view of an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases in [the National Capital Region] and adjacent provinces."
The House has been on lockdown since January 4.
With the extension of House lockdown, work will resume on January 17, Velasco said. This is also when the legislature is expected to convene for its first plenary session since the holiday break.
The House however will only allow 20% of each office’s workforce to report on-site starting January 17.
Velasco also said House Secretary Mark Llandro Mendoza was already instructed to ensure strict implementation of the lockdown.
Lawmakers and employees reporting from work meanwhile have been assured of continued access to virtual committee meetings, public hearings and other Houe events during the lockdown period.
ROBREDO SEEKS VOLUNTEERS FOR ONLINE MEDICAL CONSULTATION PROGRAM
MANILA — Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday called for volunteers for her office's free online medical consultation project, as the Philippines fought another uptick in COVID-19 cases.
Robredo said the Bayanihan e-Konsulta program tapped 1,078 doctors and 3,156 non-medical volunteers during the last surge of infections in Metro Manila.
"Inaasahan natin na dadagsa ulit ‘yung mga mangangailangan ng tulong sa e-Konsulta, kaya I want to take this opportunity na manawagan ulit for volunteers... Ganitong klaseng effort ulit ang kakailanganin natin sa harap ng surge na ito," the Vice President said in a video message.
"Kakailanganin natin ng medical at non-medical volunteers, kasama rin ang licensed mental health professionals... Kailangan ng kapwa Pilipino natin ‘yung tulong natin," she added.
Robredo said Bayanihan e-Konsulta, first launched in April last year, is again "up and running" and those who need medical consultation can message its Facebook page.
"Gusto ko ring ibalita na tuloy-tuloy ang pagbigay natin ng molnupiravir sa mga qualified na pasyente, sa tulong ng ating partner hospitals," the Vice President said, referring to the experimental COVID-19 pill developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics.
"Mag-message lang kayo sa e-Konsulta; kung kailangan, i-re-rekomenda kayo ng volunteer doctors natin para sa gamot na ito. Libre niyong makukuha ito at ipapadala ang gamot sa inyo," she added.
RIZAL BUST, MAITATAYO NA SA PARIS MATAPOS ANG ISANG DEKADANG PAGHIHINTAY
PARIS - Kasabay ng ika-125 anibersaryo ng kamatayan ng pambansang bayaning si Gat Jose Rizal, kinumpirma ng Philippine Embassy sa Paris na matutuloy na ang planong pagtatayo ng bust ni Rizal sa Paris.
“May regalo ngayon ang gobyerno ng France para sa gobyerno ng Pilipinas para sa next year na 75th anniversary ng diplomatic relations, mayroon kaming plano na magkaroon ng installation ng bust sa Place Jose Rizal sa 9th Arrondissement sa Paris,” pahayag ni Ambassador Junever Mahilum-West, Philippine Ambassador to France.
“After our last discussion at the Mairie de Paris, we’re very positive about that project”, dagdag ni Mahilum-West.
Si Gerald Lartigue, isang French artist ang nag-ukit ng imahe ni Rizal na ilalagay sa Place Jose Rizal.
Matatandaang isinulong ang proyekto ni dating Ambassador Rora Tolentino noon pang 2010. Naantala ang paglalagay ng bust ni Rizal dahil sa technical problem dahil masyado umanong mabigat ang mga materyales na gagamitin.
Maaaring maapektuhan daw ang linya ng train sa ilalim ng plaza. Para sa Filipino community sa Paris at miyembro ng Knights of Rizal at Damas napakagandang regalo ito ng Pransya para sa mga Pilipino.
“On behalf of the Knights of Rizal thank you so much for sharing us your time. Thanks for working so hard for this project,” sabi ni Sir Ferdinand Suba, isa sa mga opisyal ng KOR.
ODETTE AGRICULTURE DAMAGE CLIMBS TO P11.1 BILLION
MANILA — Damage to agriculture due to Typhoon Odette has increased to P11.1 billion, the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center reported yesterday.
The DA said 389,316 farmers and fishermen in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen and Caraga and 420,465 hectares of agricultural land have been affected so far.
”Affected commodities include rice, corn, high-value crops, coconut, sugarcane, livestock and fisheries. Damage has also been incurred in agricultural infrastructures, machineries and equipment,” the DA said.
Fisheries accounted for 27 percent of the damage valued at P3 billion; rice, P2.6 billion; high-value crops, P1.5 billion; coconut, P1.5 billion, sugarcane, P1.2 billion, and irrigation and agri-facilities, P411.4 million.
Meanwhile, damage to the power sector climbed to P3.36 billion as more electric cooperatives submitted their reports.
The National Electrification Administration (NEA) said 33 power cooperatives incurred losses.
IATF SHORTENS QUARANTINE PERIOD FOR FULLY-VACCINATED HEALTH WORKERS
MANILA — The national pandemic task force has approved shortened quarantine period for fully vaccinated medical workers as the country sees a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases that is feared to overwhelm the healthcare system.
The Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases issued Resolution No. 156 stating that hospital infection prevention and control committees have been allowed to shorten quarantine protocols of five days for fully vaccinated healthcare workers.
The Department of Health also issued an advisory on the amended quarantine and isolation period for health care workers "as contingency measure for sustaining health care capacity."
Under its advisory, the DOH said that hospital infection prevention and control committees (IPCC) may shorten quarantine protocols "for fully vaccinated health workers who are close contacts, consistent with health care capacity needs and individualized risk assessment."
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MORE PROVINCES, CITIES PLACED UNDER COVID-19 ALERT LEVEL 3
MANILA — More areas will be placed under the stricter Alert Level 3 from Sunday, January 9, as the Philippines contends with a rapidly increasing number of COVID-19 infections.
The government's pandemic task force approved the recommendation of its data analytics group to impose tighter restrictions on 14 areas, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced Thursday.
The following areas will be under Alert Level 3 from January 9 to 15:
Provinces:
Bataan
Batangas
Cagayan
Pampanga
Zambales
Cities:
Angeles City
Baguio City
Dagupan City
Iloilo City
Lapu-Lapu City
Lucena City
Naga City
Olongapo City
Santiago City
Businesses are allowed to operate at 30% indoor capacity and 50% outdoor capacity in areas under Alert Level 3. Buses, jeepneys and other forms of public transportation operate at 70% capacity.
Other areas that are now under Alert Level 3 are Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, and Laguna.
President Rodrigo Duterte cited the need to strictly enforce minimum health standards and to limit the movements of unvaccinated persons.
"So in the absence of a law, the president is called upon to act and because it is a national emergency, it is my position that we can restrain...I'm now giving orders to the barangay captains to look for those persons who are not vaccinated and just would request them or order them, if you may, to stay put," Duterte said in a pre-recorded message.
RT-PCR TESTS REQUIRED ANEW IN BORACAY
MANILA—Fully vaccinated tourists traveling to Boracay in Aklan will again be required to present a negative RT-PCR test result amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in the country, Malay Mayor Frolibar Bautista said Friday.
"Kahit may vaccination card, kailangan pa rin 'yung RT-PCR test na negative result within 72 hours before departure," he told TeleRadyo.
The new executive order signed by Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores will take effect on Sunday, Jan. 9.
Bautista said the local government would also implement longer curfew hours from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Operating hours for businesses on the island have also been limited from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
ANDREA BRILLANTES REMAINS MOST FOLLOWED PINOY CELEBRITY ON TIKTOK
For the second year in a row, Kapamilya actress Andrea Brillantes topped the list of Filipino celebrities who have the biggest following on TikTok.
Brillantes has amassed 15.6 million followers on the social media platform, almost doubling her numbers from 2020.
Sanya Lopez occupied the second spot with 11.8 million followers, while Ivana Alawi’s sister, Mona, climbed into third spot with 11 million followers.
Korean actress Dasuri Choi took No. 4 with 10.7 million followers and another Kapamilya star Maymay Entrata rounded up the top 5 with 8.6 million subscribers.
Vice Ganda, on the other hand, dropped to sixth place after ranking third last year. Also included in the top 10 are AJ Raval, Kyline Alcantara and Sofia Pablo.
The social media site has recently released its TikTok 100, a curated list of some of its most followed creators and viral trends of the past 12 months.
Leading the list of TikTok Stars for 2021 are Spencer Serafica, LITE, Mrs. Harisson, vlogger Niana Guerrero and Nicole Caluag.
Hanemiya was named as TikTok Rising Creator followed by Shuvee Etrata, KielVJ, Atty. Tony Roman and Ansony Lansang.
Placing first in the list of TikTok Edu Creators was Krizzle Luna, while Kuya Show and Dr. KIlimanguru took the second and third spots.
For food creators, actor Marvin Agustin topped the Top 10 ranking ahead of Ninong Ry and Chef Hazel.
Eric “Eruption” Tai was the top Sports Creator for 2021, beating Olympian Margielyn Didal who placed second.
Kiel Rodriguez was TikTok’s top livestreamer followed by Eson Cap and Jiro Morato, while #SquidGames was the most used hashtag challenge last year.
SPORTS
NBA SCORES JAN 5
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Pistons7-29 19 32 24 36 111
Hornets20-19 37 28 35 40 140
SPECTRUM CENTER, CHARLOTTE, NC
SCORING LEADERS
T. Lyles DET
17 PTS 7 REB 1 AST
K. Oubre Jr. CHA
32 PTS 6 REB
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Rockets11-28 29 25 32 28 114
Wizards19-19 26 29 28 28 111
CAPITAL ONE ARENA, WASHINGTON, DC
SCORING LEADERS
J. Green HOU
22 PTS 6 REB 1 AST
B. Beal WAS
27 PTS 5 REB 5 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
76ers21-16 33 29 26 28 116
Magic7-32 33 26 30 17 106
AMWAY CENTER, ORLANDO, FL
SCORING LEADERS
J. Embiid PHI
31 PTS 5 REB 4 AST
C. Anthony ORL
26 PTS 5 REB 7 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Nets24-12 32 28 34 35 129
Pacers14-25 37 36 28 20 121
GAINBRIDGE FIELDHOUSE, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
SCORING LEADERS
K. Durant BKN
39 PTS 8 REB 7 AST
D. Sabonis IND
32 PTS 12 REB 10 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Warriors29-8 21 18 28 15 82
Mavericks20-18 21 29 20 29 99
AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER, DALLAS, TX
SCORING LEADERS
A. Wiggins GS
17 PTS 3 REB 2 AST
L. Doncic DAL
26 PTS 7 REB 8 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Spurs15-22 30 28 22 19 99
Celtics18-20 30 26 21 20 97
TD GARDEN , BOSTON, MA
SCORING LEADERS
D. Murray SA
22 PTS 9 REB 12 AST
J. Brown BOS
30 PTS 6 REB 1 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Thunder13-24 10 26 27 27 90
Timberwolves18-20 30 19 20 29 98
TARGET CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
SCORING LEADERS
S. Gilgeous-Alexander OKC
19 PTS 2 REB 5 AST
A. Edwards MIN
22 PTS 5 REB 2 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Raptors18-17 35 33 24 25 117
Bucks25-15 42 35 11 23 111
FISERV FORUM, MILWAUKEE, WI
SCORING LEADERS
P. Siakam TOR
33 PTS 5 REB 6 AST
K. Middleton MIL
25 PTS 6 REB 4 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Hawks17-20 33 21 24 30 108
Kings16-24 24 21 30 27 102
GOLDEN 1 CENTER, SACRAMENTO, CA
SCORING LEADERS
K. Huerter ATL
25 PTS 11 REB 5 AST
D. Fox SAC
30 PTS 2 REB 6 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Heat24-15 30 28 25 32 115
Trail Blazers14-23 23 24 33 29 109
MODA CENTER AT THE ROSE QUARTER, PORTLAND, OR
SCORING LEADERS
M. Strus MIA
25 PTS 6 REB 5 AST
A. Simons POR
28 PTS 1 REB 7 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Jazz28-10 26 31 31 27 115
Nuggets18-18 26 30 22 31 109
BALL ARENA, DENVER, CO
SCORING LEADERS
B. Bogdanovic UTA
36 PTS 13 REB 4 AST
N. Jokic DEN
26 PTS 21 REB 11 AST
INDICATORS
FOREX $1 = P 51.18
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. - George Bernard Shaw
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