Swindler case in philippines

MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Lord Allan Velasco cautioned the public on Monday that the availability of the COVID-19 vaccine should not lull them into a false sense of security. Velasco made the remark as the country is seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases. “While we understand that more businesses are reopening and people want to resume normal activities, we have to maintain our health protocols until the COVID-19 threat is effectively addressed by our vaccination program,” Velasco said in a statement. In a similar fashion, Velasco pointed out that vigilance in following all recommended health and safety protocols is “more critical now than ever.” “Now is not the time to let our guard down… We have to wait until such time a greater number of Filipinos are vaccinated and herd immunity has been achieved,” Velasco said. The Department of Health (DOH) reported on Sunday an additional 3,276 cases of COVID-19, pushing the number of total active coronavirus cases in the Philippines ... » Learn More about Velasco: COVID-19 vaccine rollout not an excuse to relax vigilance

MANILA, Philippines—Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Debold Sinas on Monday (March 8) said its simultaneous operations in Southern Tagalog that led to the killing and arrest of several activists were “legitimate.” The police raids on Sunday (March 7) led to the killing of nine people in the provinces of Batangas, Cavite, Laguna and Rizal. At least 15 people had been arrested and four escaped. “It’s a legitimate operation because they are covered by search warrants,” Sinas said. “If you only knew how hard it its to secure search warrants then you would understand you have to justify to the judge and bring new witnesses,” he told reporters, speaking in Filipino. “Those are legitimate operations covered properly by the documents issued by the court,” he said. Security forces, he said, had search warrants for cases of illegal possession of firearms and explosives charges. Activist groups called for an investigation into the police operations, which they said were ... » Learn More about Sinas: Police raids that killed 9 activists ‘legitimate’

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) has temporarily stopped accepting walk-ins for its outpatient department amid the increase in the number of COVID-19 patients at the hospital and the detection of coronavirus among its personnel, its spokesperson said Monday. PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario said there are now 102 COVID-19 patients at the hospital, as well as 15 healthcare workers inflicted with COVID-19 on the first days of March, including four members of the hospital’s anesthesia department. He added that the South African variant of COVID-19 was also detected among one of the 30 samples sent by the hospital for genome sequencing. He further said that some 80 healthcare workers at the PGH were ordered to undergo quarantine after exposure to COVID-19 patients. “Dahil nga sa tumataas ang bilang ng admissions tapos marami-raming healthcare workers namin ang nagkasakit, at may banta na itong variants na ito na mabilis kumalat, minabuti muna namin na ... » Learn More about PGH temporarily stops walk-in admissions at outpatient department

English playwright William Shakespeare once wrote that “parting is such sweet sorrow” that it leads someone to look forward to seeing the other again. This perfectly describes seafaring couples during that small, quiet moment at the airport where one turns his back and walks away while the other looks on until a crowd of travelers close in on that speck of the luggage-loaded man. Seafaring is a lucrative profession, indeed, but it can be tough on families, more so for couples. Studies show that loneliness and homesickness are among the most debilitating and damaging psychological problems among seafarers, usually caused by long periods of being away from home. The toll is such that even Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet may struggle with the length of time apart. As for Arnel and Noemi Alvaran’s case, keeping the spark in each other’s eyes is a product of a conscious and a seemingly lifelong commitment to courting. “Constant communication plays an important role in any ... » Learn More about Bridging the distance

MANILA, Philippines — The Sandiganbayan Second Division has dismissed the graft cases filed against former senator and now Information Secretary Gregorio Honasan II and his co-accused in relation to the alleged misuse of millions worth of Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). In a 52-page resolution, the antigraft court’s Second Division granted the demurrer to evidence filed by Honasan and the other accused, saying “the prosecution failed to sufficiently establish the essential elements of the crime charged and to overcome the presumption of innocence in favor of the accused. Accordingly, the cases against the accused are hereby dismissed.” Also cleared of the graft cases were co-accused Michael Benjamin, Mehol Kiram Sadain, Fedelina Aldanese, Olga Sajise Galido, Giovanni Manuel Gaerlan, Galay Makalinggan and Aurora Aragon Mabang. The resolution was promulgated on Dec. 16, 2020, but the details were released on Thursday. Honasan was indicted in 2017 after the ... » Learn More about Sandiganbayan junks graft raps vs Honasan

Carlos Dominguez III (left) and Carlito Galvez Jr. The government is considering borrowing up to $9 billion (P433.3 billion) from the World Bank to help fund the country’s purchase of a potential COVID-19 vaccine as it starts negotiations with a leading pharmaceutical company for at least 3 million doses of the drug that will be given primarily to health workers. Carlito Galvez Jr., COVID-19 national task force chief, said on Monday that the country would have to enter into “multilateral engagements with our credit partners,” such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, since the allotted budget for the vaccine cannot be used to buy the drug in advance. Galvez said Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III was already working on how much the government could borrow from the World Bank for the advance procurement of the vaccine. ‘A lot of funds’The government has set aside P10 billion and may get an additional P8 billion for vaccines, Galvez said. This is apart from the ... » Learn More about Gov’t mulls $9-billion loan for purchase of vaccine

BACOLOD CITY: Members of the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) implemented an asset preservation order or “freeze order” on a property believed to be owned by a drug lord on Wednesday morning. The property is the Nirvana Private Resort located at Greenville Subdivision, Camanjac, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental. Reports from the AMLC showed that the property is valued at around P14 million and allegedly owned by “Rustico and Caren Ygot” from Cebu City. It is the third property of the Ygots that was issued a freeze order by the court based on charges filed by the AMLC. Rustico was believed to be a top member of the Eagle drug group operating in Region 7 (Central Visayas). Police said they have identified at least seven pieces of property allegedly belonging to the Ygot couple. Freeze orders have also been served on two of the assets. Rustico, who was arrested in an anti-illegal drug operation in Bohol in 2010 and was convicted in 2013, was killed in a riot inside the ... » Learn More about AMLC padlocks ‘property’ of drug lord

PAGADIAN CITY: Bus passengers traveling to Zamboanga City from various Zamboanga Peninsula provinces are no longer required to undergo quarantine as long as they show a negative RT-PCR or swab for Covid-19 test result. In addition, senior citizens and children will be allowed to commute as long as they have complete requirements. Rafael Derrick Evangelista 3rd, head of the Zamboanga City Integrated Bus Terminal (IBT), said the bus passengers “do not have to undergo quarantine, but they have to inform their barangay (village) leaders where they would reside in Zamboanga City for monitoring purposes.” He added that there will be no straight bus travel to and from Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod and other cities outside Region 9. According to Evangelista, no passengers will be picked up or dropped off by buses along the way and passengers can only have their toilet stop in Ipil, Zamboanga del Norte. He said Zamboanga City bound commuters from other Zamboanga Peninsula provinces can ... » Learn More about No more quarantine for R9 bus travelers

MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court has rescheduled again its oral argument on the petitions against the Anti-Terrorism Act set on Tuesday, March 9, as some of the justices are currently on self-quarantine. In the notice issued by en banc Clerk of Court, Atty. Edgar Aricheta, the 5th day of the oral argument is set on March 16. “Considering that some of the Justices are on self-quarantine as a health precaution against Covid-19, you are hereby informed per instruction of the Honorable Supreme Court, of the suspension of the oral arguments scheduled on March 9, 2021,” the Clerk of Court stated. This is the second time that the oral argument on the case has been rescheduled due to the need for justices to undergo self-quarantine. EDV For more news about the novel coronavirus click here. What you need to know about Coronavirus. The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) ... » Learn More about Some SC justices again on quarantine, terror law debates moved next week

More than 700 individuals take refuge at the Alcala Gymnasium in Cagayan. MANILA, Philippines — The spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in evacuation centers after a series of typhoons whipped the country is a looming concern, the Department of Health said Monday. “That’s a possibility. Hindi natin yan ikakaila (We won;t deny it),” Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in an online media forum when asked if the department is expecting a surge in COVID-19 cases. “Nasa isang lugar na magkakasama ang mga tao especially talagang mayroong crowding tapos hindi sila magco-comply sa minimum standards like wearing of mask, nandyan ‘yung posibilidad,” she added. (They are crowded in one place and may not comply with minimum health standards like wearing a face mask, so there is that possibility.) Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / EDWIN BACASMAS) She said DOH has deployed safety officers in evacuation centers to ... » Learn More about DOH to evacuees: Beware of COVID-19 infection