Officials see no need to test about 400 deportees from Sabah for COVID-19
ZAMBOANGA CITY—Authorities here said they found no need to subject the returning 395 Filipinos from Sabah, Malaysia to… Keep Reading
DOH to stop administering anti-HIV drugs lopinavir, ritonavir in COVID-19 treatment trials
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) will stop administering to hospitalized COVID-19 patients anti-HIV drugs lopinavir and ritonavir in its trials for the coronavirus disease treatment. This is after the World Health Organization announced it will discontinue its trials of the combination HIV drugs, along with malaria drug hydroxychloroquine after they failed to… Keep Reading
WHO reports record single-day surge in global Covid-19 cases
COVID-19 CASES. Pedestrians walk past St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue in New York, the United States, July 4, 2020. The Covid-19 cases in the US topped 2.8 million, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) GENEVA – The World Health Organization (WHO) on Saturday reported… Keep Reading
Palace to ‘leave up to SC’ decision on fate of anti-terror law
MANILA, Philippines — Malacaang will leave the fate of the newly-signed anti-terror law up to the Supreme Court. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque on Sunday said the Palace will follow whatever the ruling of the High Court will be on the petitions filed that challenge the constitutionality of the new law. “The Palace will leave it… Keep Reading
Slay of ex-rebel by ‘NPA’ hitmen in Surigao Sur condemned
BUTUAN CITY – Top officials of the Police Regional Office in Caraga Region (PRO-13) condemned the communist New People’s Army (NPA) for the alleged killing of a former rebel in Surigao del Sur. PRO-13 Public Information Officer Maj. Renel E. Serrano, in a statement Sunday, said Jojo S. Sabelino, 30, was gunned down by two… Keep Reading
Another Pangasinan town logs first coronavirus case
CONTACT TRACING. The contact tracing team, together with the barangay health emergency team of Natividad, Pangasinan, prepares for contact tracing in Barangay Cacandungan on Saturday (July 4, 2020). The village is where the first Covid-19 case in the town resides. (Photo from the Facebook page of Natividad Mayor’s Office) NATIVIDAD, Pangasinan — A 29-year-old female… Keep Reading
DENR to serve notice of violation to power barge that spilled oil in Iloilo City
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will serve a notice of violation to the owner of the power barge that spilled oil off the coast of Iloilo City last Friday, July 3. On July 3, an explosion damaged the power barge docked at the village of Barrio Obrero owned by… Keep Reading
Anti-terror law abusive, needs cleansing, says Albay lawmaker
LEGAZPI CITY – Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman has labeled the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 or the anti-terror law as “abusive” and urged the Supreme Court to remove the numerous oppressive and unconstitutional provisions on it. “Despite talk of fairness, no amount of assurance from law enforcement agencies that there would be no abuses because… Keep Reading
3 OFWs among 5 new confirmed Covid-19 cases in Bataan
COVID-19 UPDATES. Three of the five new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Bataan are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) based on the report of the Provincial Health Office on Saturday (July 4, 2020). This brought the total number of cases to 233 and active cases to 65. (Photo by 1Bataan) BALANGA CITY, Bataan – Governor Albert… Keep Reading
Camarines Norte capital records first 2 COVID-19 cases
LEGAZPI CITY—Two electricians who arrived from Metro Manila on June 26, became the first two coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in Daet, the capital town of Camarines Norte. The workers, aged 27 and 37, first exhibited symptoms the day after their arrival. Camarines Norte now has a total of 6COVID-19 cases, according to… Keep Reading
‘Threat of COVID transmission may bar faithful anew from places of worship’
MANILA, Philippines — The faithful can still be barred from churches and other places of worship despite eased restrictions in general community quarantine (GCQ) areas should there be a “visible threat” of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Sunday said the purpose of allowing 10 percent attendance in religious gatherings… Keep Reading
Baguio artist tops Miss Philippines Earth 2020 virtual pageant
MAKATI CITY, Philippines — Roxanne Allison Baeyens, an artist from Baguio City, was crowned 2020 Miss Philippines Earth in a virtual competition among 33 aspirants nationwide. Baeyens bagged the top title in the purely virtual contest that was telecast on GMA 7 Sunday morning. She will be representing the country in the Miss Earth… Keep Reading
Search and retrieval ops for 14 missing in Occidental Mindoro continue
MANILA, Philippines — Search and retrieval (SAR) operations for fourteen missing persons continued in Occidental Mindoro on Sunday, a week after a Filipino fishing vessel collided with Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship MV Vienna Wood. The Philippine Coast Guard said Sunday its search and retrieval team Mamburao is on the waters off Tayamaan, Mamburao. Meanwhile, BFP… Keep Reading
PNP rebukes ‘erroneous’ report on Cebu-based journalist
MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) lamented the “erroneous” reports by online news site Rappler that a Cebu-based journalist was detained amid the imposition of the strictest enhanced community quarantine measure (ECQ) in Cebu City. “The PNP deplored the disinformation published by online news website Rappler that police front-liners detained a local journalist in… Keep Reading
DepEd secures NTC’s support for TV, radio-based education
MANILA – Committed to widening the access to education despite the pandemic, the Department of Education (DepEd) secured an ally in the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) to support television and radio-based learning delivery for the upcoming school year. DepEd, through the NTC headed by Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba, has requested television, radio and cable operators to… Keep Reading
Singaporeans still advised to defer all travel abroad, minister says
JAKARTA — Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakhrisnan has rejected the Indonesian government’s request to reopen the city state’s borders to the tourist areas of Bintan and Batam in Riau Islands, which have been closed for months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Indonesian Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitanphoned Balakhrisnan during the former’s visit… Keep Reading
Seafarer is La Union town’s first COVID-19 patient
DAGUPAN CITY – A 35 year-old seafarer from Tubao, La Union tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Saturday. In a statement, Tubao Mayor Jonalyn Fontanilla-Piayas said the patient was swab-tested in Pasay City on July 1. He is the first COVID-19 case in the town. Piayas ordered the lockdown of Purok… Keep Reading
Indonesia’s Labuan Bajo offers free entry to tourist sites to lure visitors amid pandemic
JAKARTA — With the pandemic continuing to deter people from leaving the safety of their homes, tourist attractions in Labuan Bajo and other areas outside Komodo National Park in West Manggarai regency in East Nusa Tenggarawill offer free entryuntil July 31. Additionally, the administration implemented on Monday an online registration system for tourists seeking to… Keep Reading
NoCot records first Covid-19 death
The Department of Health-Soccsksargen coronavirus disease 2019 situation report as of July 4, 2020. KIDAPAWAN CITY – The Department of Health (DOH)-Region 12 (Soccsksargen) on Saturday confirmed the first death of a coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) patient from North Cotabato province. The patient is an 84-year-old Covid-19 patient from this city who tested positive on… Keep Reading
Give new anti-terror law a chance: Lorenzana
National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (File photo) MANILA – Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Sunday urged the public to give the “much-needed” anti-terrorism law a chance. “It is a much-needed measure to clothe law enforcement agencies with the necessary power to contain and eradicate terrorists who don’t play by any rules… Keep Reading
46 new infections bring PNP Covid-19 cases to 861
File photo MANILA – The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported that 46 more police officers contracted the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), bringing the total number of cases among its ranks to 861. As of Saturday evening, the PNP Health Service said that of new cases, 25 are from the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Central Visayas; 19… Keep Reading
N. Korea paper calls for following through with Kim’s order for ‘maximum alert’ vs virus
SEOUL — North Korea’s main newspaper called Sunday for carrying out leader Kim Jong-un’s order that the country exercise “maximum alert” against the coronavirus pandemic. Kim issued the order during a politburo meeting Thursday, warning that premature easing of anti-virus measures will lead to an “unimaginable and irretrievable crisis.” The appeal was seen as a… Keep Reading
Touch The Sky: Kanye West announces 2020 presidential run
WASHINGTON, United States – Kanye West, the entertainment mogul who urges listeners in one song to “reach for the stars, so if you fall, you land on a cloud,” announced Saturday he is challenging Donald Trump for the US presidency in 2020. “We must now realize the promise of America by… Keep Reading
Palace expects ‘positive’ results from convalescent plasma study
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque MANILA – Malacañang on Saturday expressed optimism about the study on the convalescent plasma transfusion as treatment for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) would yield “positive results.” “We hope this study will yield positive results and be our country’s contribution to the global effort to develop Covid-19 treatment,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry… Keep Reading
Taguig designates 'exercise safe zones' amid pandemic
EXERCISE SAFE ZONES. Personnel of the city government of Taguig gives away free masks and drinks to health enthusiasts at the Heritage Memorial Park on Saturday (June 4, 2020). The area is one of the designated “exercise safe zones” where residents can sweat it out under strict monitoring for health and safety protocols. (photo courtesy… Keep Reading
Two dead, 16 feared dead in Japan heavy rain — media
TOKYO — Two people died and 16 others were feared dead, local media said Sunday after torrential rain in western Japan triggered massive floods and mudslides. A woman and a man in their 80s in different towns in the western Kumamoto region died in mudslides, according to national broadcaster NHK and other Japanese media, although… Keep Reading
Independence Day marked by division on the streets of Washington
WASHINGTON — Demonstrators chanting “Black Lives Matter” exchange words with activists waving pro-Trump signs outside a fortified White House: America’s Independence Day was marked in Washington on Saturday by confrontation and disunity. As it struggles to contain the coronavirus and reckons with waves of protesters demanding racial justice, the United States is deeply polarized, with… Keep Reading
Localized thunderstorms bring cloudy skies, isolated rains
MANILA – Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers will prevail over the archipelago due to localized thunderstorms, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said Sunday. In its 4 a.m. forecast, PAGASA said the rain showers will mostly be in the afternoon and in the evening. Meanwhile, an Intertropical Convergence… Keep Reading
Military on heightened alert in Maguindanao after BIFF attacks
COTABATO CITY — The military has heightened its security posture in Maguindanao province following two attacks allegedly perpetrated by Islamic State-linked militants. Lt. Colonel Anhouvic Atilano, speaking for the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said their commander, Major Gen. Diosdado Carreon, has placed all Army units in Maguindanao on heightened alert, ordering the deployment of more… Keep Reading
Give anti-terror law a chance, ditch misinformation – Defense Sec. Lorenzana
MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Sunday appealed to the public to give the newly-signed anti-terror law or Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 a chance and “not be swayed by misinformation and disinformation.” He urged the public to read and understand the law, assuring that the government will “strictly… Keep Reading
Endangered wounded owl found in Palawan
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY—An environmental management graduate in Palawan province turned over to the local authorities a wounded adult spotted wood owl (Strix seloputo) on Saturday (July 4) after it was found on the ground in Aborlan town. The Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD), in a report issued Saturday afternoon, said that a certain Mylene… Keep Reading
