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