5 REDS SURRENDER TO SURSUR POLICE

By: Nida Grace P. Barcena

Some five members of the communist-terrorist group (CTG) surrendered to local authorities during the conduct of Simultaneous Anti-Criminality Law Enforcement Operation (SACLEO) on February 18, as reported by Surigao del Sur Police Provincial Office (SDS-PPO) provincial director PCol. Joseph Boquiren.

The five NPA surrenderees were identified as follows: - Alias “Art”, 30 years old, a resident of Brgy. Pagbahanan, Marihatag, Surigao del Sur and an element member of New People’s Army (NPA) of Squad 1, Guerilla Front19, Northeastern Mindanao Regional Committee (NEMRC);

- Rebel couple who are residents of Bolhoon, San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, identified as alias “Razol”, an active member of Militia ng Bayan/Courier and former Vice CO, Sandatahang Yunit Propaganda (SYP)-L Platoon, Weakened Guerrilla Front (WGF) 19B, Sub Regional Committee (SRC) SOUTHLAND NEMRC, and former Front 21 Regional Sentro De Grabidad -Squad leader, and “Razel”, an active member of Militia ng Bayan/Courier and a former Political Guide and Medic of SYP-L Platoon and Platoon 8, WGF19B, SRC SOUTHLAND NEMRC;

- Alias “Jelo”, 24 years old, male, native of Sitio Boringon, Brgy. Mahaba, Marihatag presently residing at Purok Caimito, Brgy. San Isidro, Marihatag, and a team leader of Alfa team under the Sub Regional Sentro De Gravidad (SRSDG) led by Alias Sodi, Squad leader of Platoon 1 of GF 19;

- Alias “Philip”, is a Squad Bomber of GF25 under alias “Eboy”, commanding officer, aka “Letran”, 35 years old, male, native of P-3, Pangyan, Trento, Agusan del Sur presently residing at P-1, Pamaypayan, Bislig City. He is Jelo’s squad leader and is actively operating in Trento, Agusan del Sur who personally appeared and voluntarily surrendered to Bislig City Police Station.

“Razol” handed over one Cal. 45 Colt MK IV (series 80) with serial number 456601 and one magazine inserted with three pieces of live ammunition upon their surrender.

During the implementation of SACLEO, the SDS-PPO collected eight small firearms and one 40mm grenade, all voluntarily turned in by individuals who appeared on the different police stations and maneuvering companies in the province.

PCol. Boquiren appealed to the NPA to stop doing illegal activities that would affect the progress for the development in the province.

“We reiterate our call for the NPA to stop all their illegal activities, return to the folds of the law, and be part of the real change. Also, the non-stop operations of retrieving loose firearms will continue as long as it needs to be done,” PCol. Boquiren said. (PIA-Surigao del Sur)

NATIONAL NEWS

The Cabinet Report: Up close with President Duterte

The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) will be airing a taped one-on-one interview of PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte through a Cabinet Report program tonight. President Duterte will be answering questions regarding his leadership over the past five years, his transition plans for the incoming administration, and his insights on this year’s national elections. Watch the special episode of the Cabinet Report this Friday, February 25, 2022 at 7:00 PM on PTV. It will be livestreamed on the Presidential Communications Operations Office Facebook page, as well as other PCOO-affiliated social media pages. The Cabinet Report is a weekly discussion on relevant issues and initiatives that are being undertaken by the Cabinet Secretaries in line with the directives of the President.

PCOO’s Visayas Media Hub breaks ground in Mandaue City

Visayas will soon have its own government media hub that will cater to tailor fitted news and information for its regions, as Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar led the groundbreaking ceremony this morning.

The facility will rise within the 3,000-square meter property of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in Barangay Subangdaku.

According to Secretary Andanar, the Visayas Media Hub will serve as the main government broadcast for Central, Eastern, and Western Visayas.

“The world-class media hub is part of our vision in the wider PCOO family to ensure that we provide tailored news and information, establish direct connectivity with the public, and bring the government closer to the Bisaya people, especially in preparation for, during times of calamities and disasters, and their aftermath,” he said.

The PCOO chief recalled the efforts that they have done in order to improve the operations not only in the PCOO proper but also that of its attached agencies. He also acknowledged the leadership of the directors and managers who rallied for the improvement of their respective offices.

“We have so much catching up to do but we were able to catch up because of good leaders behind it,” he said.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in a video message extended his congratulations to the February 19-25, 2022 | 35

PCOO for its initiative to modernize the operations of government media.

“I welcome the creation of this new facility and state-of -the-art equipment that will push the government’s communications service across the country. I am certain that this hub will be a beacon of excellence as we modernize government media for the improved welfare of our people in the Visayas and the rest of the nation,” he said.

The PCOO proper will take the lead in managing and maintaining the facility. Much like the Mindanao Media Hub, VMH will also house other PCOO attached agencies such as the Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Philippine News Agency (PNA), and Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM).

The construction project has an allotment of P300 million, while another P300 million was secured to procure state-of-theart broadcast equipment and facilities. The project was included in the PCOO’s 2022 budget with the support of Senator Christopher “Bong” Go.

In his message of support, Sen. Go considered the historic infrastructure project as a milestone in the government’s communication operations and services nationwide. “This is a vital step to increase civic awareness and public participation among Filipinos, especially in the Visayas regions,” he said.

Officials who joined the event included Office of the Presidential Adviser to the Visayas (OPAV) Undersecretary Jonjie Gonzales, PCOO Undersecretary Kris Ablan, PIA Director General Ramon Cualoping III, PBS Director General Giovanni Aportadera, PTV General Manager Kat de Castro, News and Information Bureau Director Virginia Agtay, RTVM Executive Director Assistant Secretary Dennis Wilfred Pabalan and local government officials headed by Mayor Jonas Cortez.

Palace urges public to get booster shots

Nograles

Malacanang on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, urged the public to get booster shots as added protection in light of the low uptake of booster doses.

“Iniisip siguro ng karamihan: Bakit kailangan nito? Bumababa naman na ang kaso ng COVID-19 sa bansa,” Cabinet Secretary and Acting Presidential Spokesperson Karlo Nograles said in a press briefing adding that such notion is a misguided point of view. “Kailangan pa rin natin ng dagdag na proteksyon; ika nga, it is better to be safe than sorry.”

The Palace official, citing Department of Health figures, said around 33.5 million individuals are already qualified to receive their booster shots, as of February 20, 2022, and of this number, 9.7 million or 28.95% have gotten their boosters. Sec. Nograles reiterated the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines. “Ang mga bakunang ibinibigay ng pamahalaan ay garantisadong dekalidad, ligtas at epektibo. Ito ay ating panlaban, hindi kalaban. Pang-sagip ng buhay, pambangon ng kabuhayan. Magpabakuna at magpabooster shots na po tayo,” Nograles underscored.

In the same press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire mentioned that serious Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFIs) are very rare and it’s current rate is less than 0.00003, as of February 19, 2022. Moreover, as reported by Undersecretary Vergeire not all AEFIs are due to vaccines.

A total of 134,332,014 total doses has been administered, as of February 21, 2022, with 61.8-M receiving the first dose and 62.6-M having the complete dose, according to the National COVID-19 Vaccination Dashboard. ### OPS

8.2M under 12-17 age group already fully vaxxed

(PNA file photo)

The National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 said at least 65 percent or 8,295,474 of the 12- to 17-year-old population have completed two doses of the coronavirus vaccine.

In contrast, about 3 million under the age group have yet to be inoculated, according to NTF chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said.

“Kailangan na rin po nating hanapin at hikayatin pa ang 3 milyon na hindi pa po nababakunahan (We still need to look for and encourage the other three million who are unvaccinated),” Galvez said in his report to President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night.

In terms of the provision of booster shots for the 12-17 age group, Galvez said the government is waiting for reports on administering additional doses to children.

“Naghihintay muna po tayo sa advice ng ating mga eksperto at tingnan po muna natin kung marami na pong bansa ang nagboo-booster (We are still waiting from the advice of experts and we should check it first if many countries are allowing boosters for) for 12 to 17 years old,” Galvez said.

Currently, the government uses the original formulation of Pfizer Covid-19 for the said age bracket.

As of February 16, an official total of 224,823,360 Covid-19 vaccine doses have been delivered to the country, both procured and donated.

The total excludes the 293,670 Pfizer doses, donated by the Australian government through the United Nations Children’s Fund, that arrived Monday night. (PNA/ Lade Jean Kabagani) February 19-25, 2022 | 39

Duterte lauds efforts to make 5-11 vaccination ‘nontraumatic’

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday lauded the joint efforts of the government agencies, local government units, and the private sector to make the vaccination for children aged 5 to 11 years old “nontraumatic.”

In his prerecorded Talk to the People, Duterte also thanked the medical professionals and other healthcare workers who volunteered in ramping up the country’s vaccination program, even in the farflung communities.

“I send my gratitude for making it possible. Each and every one of you, maraming salamat sa inyo at minsan natuturuan ninyo ang gobyerno ninyo (thank you because sometimes you are teaching the government),” he said.

Duterte said all Covid-19 vaccines used in the Philippines underwent a thorough study to ensure quality, safety, and efficacy.

He also urged the eligible fully vaccinated Filipinos to get additional protection against the dreaded Covid-19 and its variants, by availing of the booster shots.

To date, a total of 62,505,204 Filipinos are now fully vaccinated, representing 69 percent of the government’s targeted 90 million Filipinos until June this year.

PH remains low-risk

In his report to the President, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the Philippines has already overcome the “hump” of the Omicron variant of the Covid-19.

He said the country is now at low-risk case classification, except for Cordillera Administrative Region which remains to be on “moderate risk case” status. Duque said except for Davao Region, the healthcare utilization rates of the regions are also at low risk. On Monday, the Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,427 new Covid-19 cases, the lowest single-day infections this year.

(PNA File photo)

The latest Covid-19 bulletin indicated 58,657 active cases while total recoveries rose to 3,539,106 after 3,269 new recovered cases were recorded.

Duque also encouraged all eligible individuals to have their booster shots “to get additional protection to prevent severe disease and hospitalization.” (PNA/Lade Jean Kabagani) Caraga INFOCUS

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