Mayors Sotto, Cayetano caution public against taking ivermectin without legal approval

Kristine Sabillo, ABS-CBN News

Two Metro Manila mayors on Friday warned the public against taking the anti-parasitic drug ivermectin to treat COVID-19 since there is still not enough data showing its effectivity.

“Just because there is a bit of positive news or a little bit of possibility o may nakitang konting scientific basis, hindi yun sapat para sabihin na okay na yan pwede na yan,” Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto said during a Department of Health briefing.

(Just because there is a bit of positive news or a little bit of possibility or some scientific basis, it’s not enough to say that is sufficient.)

“Hindi tayo mga doktor. Hindi tayo medical expert. Makinig tayo sa kanila. Makinig tayo sa mga eksperto,” he added.

(We are not doctors. We are not medical experts. We should listen to them. We should listen to experts.)

Some groups have been pushing for the use of Ivermectin to treat COVID-19 patients but the DOH has repeatedly said that the studies done on the drug showed “low quality of evidence,” which is why it is still not recommended for public use.

Taguig Mayor Lino Cayetano said that while government officials might have personal opinions on the emerging treatment options for COVID-19 patients, he prefers to listen to medical experts.

“So pag dumating ang panahon inaprubahan yan ng FDA (Food and Drug Administration), pag inaprubahan ng Department of Health…by all means we will not just support it, we will advocate it, we will buy it,” he said.

(If it is approved by the FDA, the DOH, and recommended by…by all means we will not just support it, we will advocate it, we will buy it.)

The two mayors said this a day after two lawmakers distributed free Ivermectin to residents of Quezon City. 

 Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire meanwhile reiterated that there is still no sufficient evidence that would allow the Department of Health to recommend ivermectin against COVID-19.

She pointed out that no drug has been approved for the treatment of COVID-19.

However, she reiterated the FDA’s statement that as long as the ivermectin given out was from a compounding pharmacy and was prescribed by doctors, then it is legal.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/30/21/vico-sotto-lino-cayetano-on-ivermectin-covid19-cure

Limited passport appointments to resume in NCR Plus from May 3; court closures extended

The consular offices of the Department of Foreign Affairs in the National Capital Region (NCR) Plus bubble will start processing passport appointments postponed over strict lockdowns imposed in the area. 

This covers the Office of Consular Affairs in Aseana, Parañaque City and the offices in Antipolo in Rizal, Dasmariñas in Cavite, Malolos in Bulacan, and San Pablo in Laguna, which will operate under limited work hours and work force. 

The DFA said it would start processing appointments originally scheduled from March 29 to April 5, 2021 - or those affected by the closures when the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was first imposed in the area. 

The DFA took in appointments for emergency cases when the more relaxed modified ECQ (MECQ) was imposed last April. 

Those who booked their passport appointments from March 29 to 30 may expect their appointment dates to be revised to May 3 to 7. Meanwhile, those who booked their appointments for March 31 to April 5 may expect their appointment dates to be revised to May 10 to 14. 

Passport applicants were advised to check their email for their specific appointment dates. Original time slots booked will be followed for every applicant except those scheduled from 3 to 4 p.m, who will be accommodated between 1 and 3 p.m of their revised passport appointment date. 

Applicants in consular offices should wear face masks and face shields, and undergo temperature checks inside the premises. 

Appointments scheduled for May 1 onwards will be rescheduled, according to the DFA, advising applicants to check their emails for the revised schedule.

Those who need to travel for emergency matters may request an earlier appointment by emailing their consular offices with the necessary documents. 

SC extends court closures

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court extended the physical closure of all its courts and judicial offices in areas under ECQ and MECQ from May 3 until 14 - covering courts in the NCR Bubble, Quirino, Abra, and Santiago City in Isabela. 

Courts in the affected areas shall continue to operate through "fully remote videoconferences," according to an administrative order released by the Supreme Court and signed by Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo. 

These videoconferences should be done on urgent and non-urgent pending cases, and could be undertaken without permission from the Office of the Court Administrator. 

Filing of pleadings and motions will remain suspended and shall resume 7 calendar days after the physical reopening of the affected court. Essential judicial offices shall maintain the necessary skeleton staff. 

Courts and judicial offices under the more relaxed general and modified general community quarantine are required to physically open with a workforce of at least 25 percent. 

Videoconferencing is allowed in the said areas. But justices and judges should remain "within their respective judicial territorial regions" and notify the Office of the Court Administrator "with respect to judges of the first and second level courts." 

— With reports from Mike Navallo and Johnson Manabat, ABS-CBN News

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/30/21/limited-passport-appointments-to-resume-in-ncr-plus-from-may-3-court-closures-extended

70 anyos na ice candy vendor, patay sa hit-and-run sa CamSur

Isang 70-anyos na ice candy vendor sa Camarines Sur ang namatay matapos mabundol ng isang tricycle sa bayan ng Pili noong Abril 22.

Tukoy na ng pulisya ang tricycle driver na nakabundol sa biktimang kinilalang si Domingo Valles habang palabas na ng Maharlika Highway sa Barangay Palestina, dala ang kaniyang panindang ice candy. 

Patay-malisya ang tumakas na driver sa bumagsak na matanda, na agad nasawi dahil sa matinding head at neck injury.

Ayon sa anak ng biktima na si Police Corporal Yashua Valles, nakilala na nila ang nagtatagong driver dahil sa sumbong ng isang ka-jamming sa pagbibisyo nito.

“Sabi kaidtong kabisto, lango daa ito sa droga…taga-Cararayan (Naga City) po siya, nag-iskor lang daa ito sa Pili,” ani Valles.

(Sabi no’ng kakilala, lango raw yun sa droga… Taga-Cararayan, Naga City po siya, umiskor lang sa Pili.)

Ayon sa pulisya, desidido ang pamilya ng biktima na sampahan ng kasong homicide ang driver, na nakatakda na umanong sumuko ayon sa may-ari ng tricycle.

Napalitan na umano ng pintura at naalis na ang top load ng tricycle. Kaya pinag-aaralan rin ng pamilya Valles at pulisya ang pagsasampa ng kasong obstruction of justice laban sa tricycle operator matapos umanong tangkaing itago ang ebidensiya sa krimen. - ulat ni Jonathan Magistrado

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/70-anyos-na-ice-candy-vendor-patay-sa-hit-and-run-sa-camsur

NSCR PROJECT PHILIPINES UPDATE wow these is it Girder installed North Sh...

NCR can ease quarantine when daily COVID cases decline to 2,000: OCTA Research

Metro Manila can ease to general community quarantine when its COVID-19 daily average cases declines to less than 2,000 infections, OCTA Research Group said Thursday.

"We’re hoping the cases will be reduced to less than 2,000. If the number of daily average cases in NCR goes below 2,000 it will still a significant number but I believe we can still manage it even under GCQ," Professor Guido David told ANC's Headstart.

President Rodrigo Duterte has extended until May 14 the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in NCR Plus bubble composed of the capital region, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.

OCTA Research forecasts the number of daily COVID-19 cases in Metro Manila will decline to 2,800 in two weeks' time, David said.

"If it's less than 2,800, there are more people getting discharged from hospitals compared to admissions, then that would mean our hospitals would start to loosen up or has less strain on them," he said.

"We’re optimistic though we haven’t seen the guidelines...maybe the decrease will be slower, we’re hoping the downward trend will continue."

The group recommends that dine-in services remain barred as outside dining is preferred, David said. It also proposes that capacity of establishments be increased to up to 30 percent, he added.

"We still have to have social distancing in place. The easing of restrictions has to be done gradually," David said.

The COVID-19 bed capacity of St. Luke's Medical Center remains at a "critical" level, said its president and CEO Dr. Arturo dela Peña.

"As of now it’s still critical. It has gone down a little bit over the last 2 days. This is the effect of quarantine instituted 3 weeks ago. When you open gradually, it is expected for the number to increase also," he said.

Two of its hospitals have increased virus bed capacity to "more than 30 percent," that was required by government, Dela Peña added.

"When the surge came in, we have noticed the intensive care areas are more than 100 percent capacity. Meaning to say, there were more critical cases we’re admitting within the last 3 weeks," he said.

"There are days that it is beyond 100 percent but it doesn’t go down 90 percent occupancy rate."

Government must increase its COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, and vaccination to address the surge, according to Dela Peña.

The public must be educated on coronavirus vaccine instead of making it mandatory, he added.

"I think it is a violation of one’s right. It might be unconstitutional but if we can find a way of educating the people about the benefits of vaccination," he said.

"We've been talking to a lot of our patients and many of them do not really understand. What is being magnified are complications and even anecdotal claims of death associated to vaccination, which is not true."

The Philippines on Wednesday tallied 6,895 additional COVID-19 cases, bringing its total to 1,020,495, of which 6.6 percent or 67,769 are active infections.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/octa-research-recommendation-on-when-return-to-gcq-covid-cases-coronavirus

P680K halaga ng shabu nakumpiska sa Maynila

MAYNILA - Arestado ang 3 katao sa ikinasang buy-bust operation ng Sta. Cruz Police sa Barangay 327 sa Maynila Huwebes. 

Nagbenta umano ng halagang P500 ng hiihinalang shabu ang target na si alyas Atong. Arestado rin ang dalawa niyang kasamahan na kapwa nakuhanan ng mga pakete ng hinihinalang shabu

Aabot sa 100 gramo ng hinihinalang shabu ang kumpiskado sa grupo na nasa P680,000 ang halaga.

Ayon sa mga pulis, miyembro ng Commando Gang ang target ng operasyon at dumarayo sila sa iba’t ibang mga lugar sa Maynila para magtulak ng ilegal na droga.

Pare-pareho silang kakasuhan ng paglabag sa Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/04/29/21/p680k-halaga-ng-shabu-nakumpiska-sa-maynila

Mga ilegal na shuttle service, pinaghuhuli ng I-ACT sa Batangas

Hindi bababa sa 16 shuttle vans ang hinuli at pina-impound ng Inter-Agency Council for Traffic (i-ACT) sa kanilang anti-colorum operations sa Batangas.

Nagtungo ang i-ACT sa Sto. Tomas Exit ng SLEX at Star Tollway kasama ang LTFRB, Coast Guard at Highway Patrol Group. Sa labas pa lang ng toll gate ay pinatigil at ininspeksiyon ang mga private van para sa requirement ng LTFRB sa mga shuttle service.

Ayon sa I-ACT galing Tanauan ang karamihan sa mga nahuling shuttle at bibiyahe pa-Laguna o sa Sto. Tomas.

Pangalawang beses na umanong tinungo ng i-ACT ang naturang lugar at pinaniniwalaan nilang marami pang shuttle service ang bumibiyahe nang kulang sa requirements. Kailangang kumpletong hawak ng driver ng shuttle ang kanilang contract of lease, passenger accident insurance, valid ID ng driver at may body markings ang van.

Magmumulta ng P200,000 ang may-ari ng van para mabawi ang sasakyan sa impounding area sa Pampanga.

- TeleRadyo 29 Abril 2021 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/04/29/21/mga-ilegal-na-shuttle-service-pinaghuhuli-ng-i-act-sa-batangas

Higit P8-M halaga ng hinihinalang dried marijuana nasabat sa Bulacan; 5 tiklo

Tinatayang nasa P8.16 milyong halaga ng hinihinalang dried marijuana ang nakuha ng PDEA at pulisya sa isang buy-bust operation sa lungsod ng Malolos, Bulacan nitong Miyerkoles.

Limang suspek ang inaresto, at ayon sa PDEA-Region 3 sila umano ang major supplier ng marijuana sa Bulacan at ilang bayan sa Pampanga. 

Nakuha sa mga suspek ang humigit-kumulang 68 kilo ng dried marijuana leaf.

Inihahanda na ang isasampang kasong paglabag sa Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 laban sa 5 nahuling suspek. — Ulat ni Gracie Rutao

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/29/21/higit-p8-m-halaga-ng-hinihinalang-dried-marijuana-nasabat-sa-bulacan-5-tiklo

Navotas lawmaker tests positive for COVID-19 in antigen test

RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News

Navotas Rep. John Rey Tiangco on Tuesday disclosed he tested positive for COVID-19 in an antigen test, adding he was scheduled for the more accurate RT-PCR test Wednesday. 

"Para po sa inyong kaalaman, base sa antigen test ko ngayong gabi, ako ay nag-positibo sa COVID-19. Bukas po ay magpapa-RT-PCR test po ako," Tiangco posted on his Facebook page.

Tiangco said "he is doing fine" as he urged those he was in close contact with to get themselves tested.

"Mabuti naman po ang aking pakiramdam at kasalukuyan po akong naka-quarantine," the solon added.

Tiangco has yet to respond to ABS-CBN’s question on the result of his RT-PCR test, regarded as the most accurate COVID-19 test, to confirm his diagnosis.

Antigen tests are said to be less accurate but are more useful at checking for current infection than rapid antibody tests. They are also cheaper and quicker to use than PCR tests.

The Philippines' pandemic response task force earlier has started rolling out 30,000 rapid antigen tests daily to quickly identify and isolate infected persons. 

Antigen tests in NCR Plus (Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, and Bulacan) will be limited to patients and health care workers in hospitals, and in barangays with a high prevalence of infections.

Aside from Tiangco, Batangas Rep. Raneo Abu, House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez, Anak Kalusugan Party-list Rep. Mike Defensor, and Negros Oriental Rep. Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong have all tested positive for COVID-19 this year.

Last year, Representatives Bernardita Ramos of Sorsogon and Francisco Datol of Senior Citizens Party-List died of complications due to COVID-19.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/28/21/navotas-lawmaker-tests-positive-for-covid-19-in-antigen-test

San Juan public schools get thousands of laptops, tablets

Public schools in San Juan City received Wednesday thousands of laptops, tablets and pocket WiFi devices that students can use for distance education as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora led the turnover of 12,500 tablets, 1,000 laptops and 1,000 pocket WiFi devices from the city government and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to principals and representatives of 13 public schools.

LOOK: DICT, San Juan City government complete turnover of tablets, laptops, pocket WiFi to public school students in the city (📷 Rolly Roque, ABS-CBN News) @ABSCBNNews pic.twitter.com/JG1ts7w6Re

— Bianca Dava 🐈‍⬛😺🐈 (@biancadava) April 28, 2021

Zamora said the laptops and WiFi devices would go to students in Grades 3 to 6 at the Pinaglabanan Elementary School as part of the DICT's Digital Education program.

Last year, public school teachers in San Juan received laptops from the city government.

The country's education system shifted to distance learning — where students learn from their homes via modules, online classes, and education programs aired over TV and radio — after government prohibited in-person classes due to the threat of the new coronavirus.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones has said she was pushing for the country's education system to move towards online or technology-mediated learning because Filipino students may be left behind in global competitiveness.

The Department of Education and DICT earlier allowed the construction of common towers in public schools, which are seen to expand connectivity in underserved areas and help telcos save on expenses.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/28/21/san-juan-public-schools-get-thousands-of-laptops-tablets