‘NAG-IIMPAKE NA AKO’: DUTERTE SAYS READY TO LEAVE PRESIDENCY
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte said he is ready to leave his post and turn over his responsibilities to his successor.
"Nag-iimpake na nga ako eh. 'Yung iba ipinadala ko na, 'yung madala sa barko, binarko ko. You know the small things, 'yung mga tokens, 'yung mga bronze, 'yun ang inuna ko, 'yung mga mabigat," Duterte said in a taped public briefing aired late Monday.
He also said he is ready to leave Malacañang and welcome the new president.
"I await the day of turnover. Matikman ko rin 'yung feeling ng outgoing president. I will be the one to meet the new president, then I will invite him here for a tete-a-tete," Duterte added.
Duterte said he hopes to be done moving out of his office in Malacañang by March or April.
"Nag-iimpake na po ako. I have a little over 3 months, so I should be out by March, hindi ko na paabutin ng Abril. Hindi na rin ako matutulog dito. Kung saan dalhin ng Panginoong Diyos, magpraktis na ako ng tulog doon," he said.
Once he is done moving out, Duterte will go to the Palace every day to just fulfill his duties as president for the remainder of his term.
"Magpunta na lang ako dito for day-to-day trabaho, what's left of the things we have to work on," Duterte said.
Duterte, 76, earlier filed his candidacy as a substitute senator under the PDDS party or Pederalismo ng Dugong Dakilang Samahan, but eventually withdrew his senatorial bid.
Philippine presidents are only good for one term.
#HALALAN2022: DUTERTE SAYS NOT SUPPORTING A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte said he was not supporting any of the presidential candidates in the upcoming national elections.
"I may, in the end. If I see that it would be . . . My advice and maybe endorsement would help, kung kailangan (if needed). But at this time, I am saying that I am not supporting anybody," Duterte said in a taped public briefing aired late Monday.
"Unless there is a compelling reason, really, for me to change my mind and decide to support a candidate. But until now, wala akong nakikita (I don't see anyone)."
Duterte clarified that despite not supporting anyone, he believes all the candidates are qualified.
"They are all qualified, kung sino man sila (whoever they are). Those running now are qualified to be president," he said.
"I am not into supporting anybody right now."
OFFICIALS WORKING ON ‘LIVING WITH COVID-19’ ROADMAP
MANILA—Government officials are now working on a national roadmap so the country can move towards living with COVID-19.
According to National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon, they are now working on the roadmap, which they hope to present to President Rodrigo Duterte and the Inter-Agency Task Force by early March.
"We feel that it is now time to start discussing and planning out a roadmap so we can already start living with COVID-19, and we will start doing that this month. And hopefully, we are targeting to finish this, and hopefully present to the IATF and to you, Mr. President, early March," he said.
Dizon said they also hope to bring down the number of daily COVID-19 cases to less than 1,000, as well as to open more vaccination sites, including schools and other private establishments.
The Philippines has so far tallied a total of 3,616,387 cases, of which 116,720 or 3.2 percent remain active. COVID-related deaths in the country rose to 54,538 on Monday, while recoveries reached 3,445,129.
The Philippines on Monday expanded its pediatric vaccination to children aged 5 to 11.
The program, which rolled out in six sites in Metro Manila and will later be expanded nationwide, has so far inoculated 7,416 kids in the age bracket, vaccine czar Sec. Carlito Galvez said in the briefing.
JOURNALIST RAISSA ROBLES FILES MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS VS. GADON OVER VIRAL VIDEO
MANILA — Investigative journalist and award-winning book author Raissa Robles has filed multiple complaints against suspended lawyer and senatorial candidate Lorenzo “Larry” Gadon over a viral video that surfaced in December where the senatoriable cursed her.
In an 11-page complaint affidavit filed before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office on February 4, Robles accused Gadon of violating the Safe Spaces Act (Republic Act 11313) and of committing libel and cyber libel.
The twenty-second video clip began with Gadon mentioning Robles by her full name, cursing her and calling her out for supposedly spreading information that presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. did not pay taxes.
“Anong pinagsasabi mong hindi nagbayad si BBM ng taxes? May certification yan galing sa BIR,” Gadon angrily said, before again hurling profanities at the journalist.
Robles said Gadon used “brutal, dehumanizing, misogynistic and sexist” language in the video.
“Mr. Gadon was obscenely gesturing with this middle finger and directing the contemptuous hand gesture to the person to whom he was addressing his profane words; in other words, to me,” she said.
“I am certain that the words used by Mr. Gadon in the video constitute terrorizing, unwanted sexual misogynistic, and sexist statements made online, whether publicly or through direct and private messages, which are defined as the criminal offense of gender-based online sexual harassment under Republic Act No. 11313, otherwise known as the Safe Spaces Act…,” she added.
The Safe Spaces Act or Bawal Bastos Law, signed into law in 2019, punishes gender-based sexual harassment in public areas and online.
Gadon could face anywhere from 2 years and 4 months to 4 years and 2 months imprisonment aside from up to P500,000-fine, if found guilty.
The law imposes a higher penalty if the offended party is a senior citizen like Robles.
MAJORITY OF KIDS AGE 5 TO 11 EXPERIENCED MINOR INJECTION SITE PAIN AFTER COVID JAB: DOCTOR
MANILA - Majority of children experienced minor injection site pain after being vaccinated against COVID-19 during the first day of its rollout at the National Children's Hospital in Quezon City, its chief said Tuesday.
Some 237 children ages 5 to 11 were inoculated Monday at the hospital, which allows both pre-registration and walk-in, according to its medical center chief Dr. Moriel Creencia.
All children stayed in the post-vaccination area for 15 minutes for monitoring and 30 minutes if they had history of allergy, Creencia said.
"So far nobody developed fever, just some minor pain over the area of their vaccination site," she told ANC's Headstart.
"I think the success of our vaccination is we're really praying that no child will develop any reaction or negative effect of this vaccination."
There is a need to immunize children against the coronavirus as the number of them getting infected increased in the first and last quarter of 2021, Creencia said.
"Before, during the start of the pandemic we never had (pediatric) patients who were COVID positive. We had but very rare," she said.
"We have also to realize or it must be emphasized to the parents that children need to interact less with gadgets and more people we can only do this if we vaccinate our children...Children would say I want to be vaccinated because I want to go back to school, to go out."
‘THOUSANDS’ EXPECTED AT ROBREDO CAMPAIGN KICKOFF IN NAGA
NAGA CITY — Thousands are expected to flock to Plaza Quezon in Naga City on Friday night, February 11, to witness the presidential campaign kickoff of Vice President Leni Robredo, the campaign manager for the Bicol region said.
Ronald Rodriguez told reporters in a chance interview that they will be working with the local government and the police to enforce pandemic protocols among the throngs of people who will attend.
Ensuring that COVID-19 protocols will be followed is expected to be tough and Robredo said they are still working out how to follow the Commission on Elections’ stringent rules on campaigning during the pandemic.
The vice president said, however, that following pandemic rules, even if it means doubling their campaign efforts, will not be a problem.
Instead of limiting the number of people at the campaign launch, Rodriguez said they will be installing LED displays across the city, which is Robredo’s hometown, so that people would not have to crowd the plaza which has a capacity of 15,000 to 20,000.
Robredo’s campaign kickoff was supposed to happen along Magsaysay Avenue, but the vice president decided against this as she does not want to close a road for this activity.
The kickoff will feature Robredo, her running mate Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, eight of her 12 senatorial candidates and performances from volunteer artists.
PACQUIAO NAMED AMBASSADOR FOR THE HOMELESS AND VULNERABLE
MANILA — A leading international humanitarian and philanthropic organization has formally named Sen. Manny Pacquiao as the world’s “Ambassador for the Homeless and Vulnerable,” owing to his popular rags-to-riches life story.
The presidential aspirant also led the groundbreaking of a community center in a housing development project at the reclamation area in Barangay Subangdako in Mandaue City, Cebu after he was conferred the title by the organization Spring Rain Global.
Pacquiao recalled the days when he was forced to sleep on the streets and his family had to live in makeshift shanties, which prompted his desire to make housing one of the priority programs of his administration, in case he makes it to Malacañang.
The Filipino global boxing champion in eight weight divisions also said that having a decent home “not only will provide shelter, warmth and comfort to the poor, but it will also give people a sense of dignity and thus give them motivation to improve their way of life.”
Pacquiao said he plans to build at least 10 million houses that will be distributed for free to the country’s 1.6 million informal settlers and more than nine million families renting apartments or are sharing spaces with their extended families.
Spring Rain Global facilitates funding for various humanitarian projects, especially in Third World countries.
ROBREDO ENDORSES ROLANDO ANDAYA FOR CAMSUR GOVERNOR
LIBMANAN — Vice President Leni Robredo has expressed support for former Rep. Rolando Andaya Jr. (Camarines Sur)'s bid to become the province’s governor.
Speaking in Bicolano at a campaign stop here in Libmanan, Camarines Sur on Tuesday, Robredo introduced Andaya — who is also identified with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, a candidate for vice president — as "our governor."
Prior to Robredo’s decision to run for president, Andaya had egged her on to run for Camarines Sur governor.
He even erroneously said that Robredo is dead set on running for the local executive position and that she had transferred her voter registration to Magarao town — claims which were refuted by the vice president herself.
Before supporting Robredo, Andaya backed Duterte-Carpio for president and even arranged meetings with her for a tandem with former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro.
Duterte-Carpio, however, ended up running as Robredo’s archrival Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s vice president instead.
Andaya is challenging the Villafuerte family, which has been in control of Camarines Sur since 1998. The Villafuertes are fielding Luigi Villafuerte, the brother of the incumbent Miguel Villafuerte.
Apart from Luigi, Andaya is running against singer Imelda Papin, Ireneo Bongat Jr. and Richard Cabal.
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PNP REMINDS BETS ON CAMPAIGN RULES: NO HOUSE-TO-HOUSE, HANDSHAKES, DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD
MANILA — With the official campaign period beginning, the Philippine National Police on Tuesday reminded national candidates of the election guidelines set by the Commission on Elections amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement sent to the media, the PNP reiterated the provisions of Comelec Resolution No. 10732 which sets rules in conducting physical campaign, rallies, meetings and other related activities.
Minimum public health standards should also always be observed as prescribed by the Department of Health, Police Gen. Dionardo Carlos, PNP chief also said.
“I’m sure that all candidates are well aware of the Comelec resolution on campaigning. We will not look at any political color here, but our role is to enforce the health protocol. Whoever shall violate, will have to face the consequences,” Carlos said.
The prohibited acts under the in-person activities include:
- entering private dwellings for house-to-house campaigning even with owner’s permission
- crowding
- handshaking or other forms of physical contact
- taking selfies or photographs that require close proximity among people
- distributing of food and drinks
Each outdoor campaign activity must have a duly approved Conduct of Election Campaign permit, which shall be filed at least 72 hours before the actual campaign.
Carlos said that every local Comelec office has its campaign committee that can accept the applications.
For an in-person campaign, the application must be attached with proof of identity of the companions.
Motorcades, caravans, rallies and miting de avance must also secure a permit from the local government unit concerned.
Proof of reservation of the DOT-accredited venue must be attached along with the main form for meetings and the likes.
"Please comply with these requirements so our PNP personnel can better monitor election-related activities. Our goal is to ensure the safety of everyone participating," Carlos said.
Carlos also reiterated that every police officer is prohibited from campaigning for any candidate or from influencing the public to favor one candidate over the other.
YOUTH ORGS CALL ON CANDIDATES TO BRING CLIMATE, ENVIRONMENT TO THE TABLE
GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Young activists are calling on candidates in the May polls to put forward climate platforms that put people and the planet at the center as climate change-related risks have been increasingly felt in recent years.
"The next leaders of the country need to recognize the urgency of the climate crisis for our country," said Jon Bonifacio, national coordinator of Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines (YACAP).
He stressed the need to start talking about how the Philippines can adapt to climate change, especially after the devastation caused by Typhoon Odette (Rai)—the strongest tropical cyclone that hit the country last year.
The archipelagic Philippines is one of the countries most at risk from the climate crisis.
Youth organizations called on candidates to ensure scientifically-appropriate protection and restoration of mangroves, seagrass beds, coral reefs and watershed ecosystems.
There must also be increase in public investment into local research and technology, investments in infrastructure resilient to climate impacts, and policies that aim to better prevent, prepare for and respond to climate change impacts.
They also stressed that relocation is not the only solution for people living in risk zones.
Young climate activists also urged poll aspirants to implement a stricter moratorium on coal, make the country’s climate commitments or the Nationally Determined Contributions more ambitious, develop a clear transition pathway toward renewable energy, and impose a nationwide ban on single-use plastics.
They also need to accelerate the inclusion of climate change education in elementary and high school curricula, maintain a transparent process in all efforts toward addressing the climate change, and ensure stricter implementation of climate and environmental policies.
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
SHARON IN ‘CONCEPCION’: MEGA STAR AMUSED BY PROJECT’S TITLE
MANILA—Is Sharon Cuneta set to star in a series called “Concepcion”? The amusing coincidence isn’t lost on the Mega Star, going by her latest post on Instagram.
Over the weekend, Cuneta shared the concept poster for the international project, with a caption indicating she is aware there’s a connection to be made given its title and her personal history.
“Sige magtawa kayo sa title!” she wrote, with a laughing emoji. “Eh wala ganon talaga eh. Trabaho lang walang personalan!”
“Just please read the article. Just might be my surprise #1 for all of you! This is Hollywood y’all!” she added, linking to a page providing a synopsis of the series.
Cuneta was formerly married to fellow screen veteran Gabby Concepcion, with whom she has had a tumultuous relationship over the years. They have one daughter together: actress KC Concepcion.
“Concepcion” is a co-production of ABS-CBN with Filipino-American actor Reggie Lee and Filipino-American film producer Jeremiah Abraham.
Set alternately between 1992 and 2020, the series is billed as a family crime drama centering on the titular Paulo “Lolo Pepe” Concepción and his Filipino kin, who rule over Historic Filipinotown or HiFi in Los Angeles.
Cuneta’s possible role in the series has yet to be specified.
SPORTS
NBA SCORES FEB 6
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Nets29-24 40 35 16 13 104
Nuggets29-24 39 37 31 17 124
BALL ARENA, DENVER, CO
SCORING LEADERS
K. Irving BKN
27 PTS 5 REB 11 AST
N. Jokic DEN
27 PTS 12 REB 10 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Pistons12-41 26 30 23 26 105
Timberwolves28-25 24 31 28 35 118
TARGET CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
SCORING LEADERS
S. Bey DET
24 PTS 8 REB 3 AST
K. Towns MIN
24 PTS 12 REB 2 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
76ers32-21 34 27 28 30 119
Bulls33-20 26 26 29 27 108
UNITED CENTER, CHICAGO, IL
SCORING LEADERS
J. Embiid PHI
40 PTS 10 REB 3 AST
D. DeRozan CHI
45 PTS 9 REB 7 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Hawks25-28 26 24 26 18 94
Mavericks31-23 29 25 26 23 103
AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER, DALLAS, TX
SCORING LEADERS
J. Collins ATL
22 PTS 18 REB 1 AST
J. Brunson DAL
22 PTS 5 REB 5 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Celtics30-25 21 28 29 38 116
Magic12-43 15 24 22 22 83
AMWAY CENTER, ORLANDO, FL
SCORING LEADERS
J. Brown BOS
26 PTS 5 REB 3 AST
J. Suggs ORL
17 PTS 6 REB 5 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Pacers19-36 27 20 21 17 85
Cavaliers33-21 12 24 25 37 98
ROCKET MORTGAGE FIELDHOUSE, CLEVELAND, OH
SCORING LEADERS
C. Duarte IND
22 PTS 5 REB 2 AST
C. Osman CLE
22 PTS 4 REB 5 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Pelicans21-32 26 23 38 33 120
Rockets15-38 21 33 23 30 107
TOYOTA CENTER, HOUSTON, TX
SCORING LEADERS
B. Ingram NO
33 PTS 3 REB 12 AST
C. Wood HOU
22 PTS 8 REB 3 AST
FINAL
1 2 3 4 T
Bucks34-21 28 32 39 38 137
Clippers27-28 32 19 30 32 113
CRYPTO.COM ARENA, LOS ANGELES, CA
SCORING LEADERS
G. Antetokounmpo MIL
28 PTS 10 REB 5 AST
N. Powell LAC
28 PTS 1 REB 4 AST
INDICATORS
FOREX $1 = P 51.37
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
The world owes all its onward progress to men ill at ease. The happy man inevitably confines himself within ancient limits. - Nathaniel Hawthorne
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