Coronavirus: Gilead’s Remdesivir Begins Trials as Researchers Publish Positive In Vitro Results CLINICAL TRIALS of Gilead Sciences’ remdesivir have begun in Wuhan, China, the center of the novel coronavirus outbreak, a day after Chinese researchers recommended that the antiviral drug candidate remdesivir be assessed in humans as
Founded 2006
a potential treatment for 2019-nCoV. China’s National Medical Products Administration has approved applications by the China-Japan Friendship Hospital and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences to conduct trials evaluating rem-
mindanaoexaminer.com
desivir. China’s state-owned Xinhua news agency reported that Friendship Hospital plans to study a total of 761 patients in two trials—one trial to assess 308 with mild or moderate infection, the other 453 severely infected patients—
Medical workers gesture to each other through the window in Zhangzhou Municipal Hospital in Zhangzhou, southeast China’s Fujian Province. (Photo by Xiao Heyong / Xinhua) READ STORY ON PAGE 2
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Duterte scraps VFA; wrong move, says Pentagon P
RESIDENT DUTERTE’s termination of the 1999 Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States was a wrong move, the Pentagon said, but it will save a lot of money for Washington, according to President Donald Trump. READ STORY ON PAGE 3
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Sedition charges dropped against 4 bishops MANILA HAS dropped charges against four bishops and two priests who were accused of attempting to overthrow President Rodrigo Duterte. Prosecutors admitted that there is no evidence linking the six clerics to
a plot to attempt to overthrow Duterte, and the Justice Department dropped all charges. Archbishop Socrates Villegas of Lingayen-Dagupan, Bishop Pablo Virgilo Continue on page 3
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President Rodrigo Duterte (PCOO)
I don’t really mind if they would like to do that, it will save a lot of money – Trump
Solicitor General Jose Calida. (OSG)
President Donald Trump (White House)
ABS-CBN shutdown is political harassment: HRW
SHUTTING DOWN media giant ABS-CBN has all the indications of political harassment and an attempt by President Duterte to intimidate the country’s biggest television network, according to the Human
Rights Watch - Asia. “The quo warranto case filed by the Solicitor General Jose Calida against ABS-CBN, the country’s largest and most influential network Continue on page 3
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February 17-23, 2020
Coronavirus: Gilead’s Remdesivir Begins Trials as Researchers Publish Positive In Vitro Results at Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan, under Phase III studies that have been officially launched. “We hope good results will be achieved in the trials,” said Sun Yanrong, deputy director of the science and technology ministry’s China Biotechnology Development Center, at a press conference held by the National Health Commission. According to updated coronavirus figures reported by the National Health Commission, 65 people died and 3,887 more people were confirmed to be infected. To date, over 24,000 people have been confirmed as infected with 2019-nCoV, and 490 people have died—more than the 349 who died in the SARS outbreak of 2002–03—with 892 patients cured and discharged from hospitals. China has launched numerous initiatives in recent days aimed at controlling the outbreak, with Xinhua reported that President Xi Jinping said “the infection prevention and control is at a critical moment and stressed the utmost importance of carrying out the work in a law-based, scientific and orderly manner,” during the third meeting of the Commission for Overall Law-based Governance of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, headed by Xi. Xi also signaled that China may hold some officials accountable for the nation’s initial slow response to containing
2019-nCoV: “Xi spoke of the need to improve legislation related to epidemic prevention and control, strengthen the building of supporting institutions and improve punishment procedures,” Xinhua reported. He has previously characterized China’s initial response as marked by “shortcomings and deficiencies.” Remdesivir, chloroquine “highly effective” The trials were announced as having begun a day after the experimental drug and a marketed anti-malarial, chloroquine, showed promising preclinical results. “Our findings reveal that remdesivir and chloroquine are highly effective in the control of 2019-nCoV infection in vitro,” the researchers reported in “Remdesivir and chloroquine effectively inhibit the recently emerged novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in vitro,” a study published as a letter to the editor of the Nature-owned journal Cell Research. “Since these compounds have been used in human patients with a safety track record and shown to be effective against various ailments, we suggest that they should be assessed in human patients suffering from the novel coronavirus disease,” the researchers added. The research team consisted of investigators from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences / National
Center for Biosafety and the National Academy of Military Medical Research Institute of Emergency Medicine for Prevention and Control of Drugs. The researchers published their recommendation Tuesday, the same day that China’s Ministry of Science and Technology first said it would launch human clinical trials of remdesivir after a batch of the drug arrived in the country, Xinhua reported. In their study, the researchers assessed remdesivir and chloroquine and five other drugs against a clinical isolate of 2019nCoV in vitro. The five were: ribavirin, penciclovir, nitazoxanide, nafamostat, and favipiravir (T-705 or Avigan). “Notably, Remdesivir (EC50 = 0.77 μM; CC50 > 100 μM; SI > 129.87) and chloroquine (EC50 = 1.13 μM; CC50 > 100 μM, SI > 88.50) potently blocked virus infection at low-micromolar concentration and showed high SI [selectivity index],” the researchers reported. A time-of-addition assay showed remdesivir to function at a stage post virus entry, which according to the scientists appeared to reflect its putative anti-viral mechanism as a nucleotide analogue. “Our data showed that EC90 value of remdesivir against 2019-nCoV in Vero E6 cells was 1.76 μM, suggesting its working concentration is likely to be achieved in NHP,” the researchers added. “Our preliminary data showed
that remdesivir also inhibited virus infection efficiently in a human cell line (human liver cancer Huh-7 cells), which is sensitive to 2019-nCoV.” Pursuing remdesivir patent Remdesivir proved sufficient effective, the institutions added in a statement issued by the Wuhan Institute of Virology, that they have applied for Chinese invention patents on January 21 “in accordance with international practice and from the perspective of protecting national interests (Resistance to new coronaviruses in 2019).” The institutions stated that they also plan to pursue multiple patents worldwide as allowed under the global Patent Cooperation Treaty. However, the institutions added that should Gilead “intend to contribute to China’s epidemic prevention and control, we both agree that if the state needs it, we will not require the implementation of the rights claimed by the patent for the time being.” The institutions have opted not to pursue patents for chloroquine, which is already marketed in China, also with the aim of encouraging partners to join them in efforts to prevent and control the spread of coronavirus. Gilead said on January 31 that it will partner with officials to carry out clinical trials of remdesivir, and has offered the Nuc inhibitor for use in a “small number” of pa-
tients with 2019-nCoV for emergency treatment in the absence of any approved treatment options. The company added that it is also expediting “appropriate” laboratory testing of remdesivir against 2019-nCoV samples. Gilead chief medical officer Merdad Parsey, MD, PhD, has cited positive in vitro and in vivo activity shown by remdesivir in animal models against MERS and SARS, coronaviruses that are structurally similar to 2019-nCoV. Remdesivir also showed “no adverse events” after it was administered as a treatment to the first American confirmed to be infected with 2019-nCoV, according to “First Case of 2019 Novel Coronavirus in the United States,” a case study published Friday in The New England Journal of Medicine by members of the Washington State 2019nCoV Case Investigation Team. Rating unchanged despite potential “This case-report suggests that remdesivir could be an effective treatment for 2019-nCoV and should be formally investigated as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of 2019-nCoV pneumonia, and we are encouraged by Gilead’s efforts to further investigate remdesivir, through the recently initiated trial in collaboration with Chinese health authorities,” SVB Leerink director of therapeutics research and senior research analyst, Geoffrey C. Porges, MBBS,
wrote in an investor note along with colleagues Neil Puri, MD, Ke (Andrew) Yuan, CFA, CPA, and Bradley Canino, CPA. They added, however, that they would not change SVB Leerink’s “Market Perform” rating of Gilead stock as a result of remdesivir’s potential in treating coronavirus. “From a societal perspective, we are unequivocally supportive of Gilead’s (and other company’s) efforts to develop an effective treatment for this rapidly spreading, and potentially fatal, infection; however these activities do not alter our fundamental assessment and outlook for GILD’s stock, as therapies of this nature are likely to provide a short-term financial boost, but unlikely to yield a significant impact on long-term shareholder value,” Porges and colleagues wrote. Atazanavir, an antiretroviral medication used to treat and prevent HIV, was the most promising chemical compound to emerge from an artificial intelligence-based prediction model for antiviral drugs that may be effective on 2019-nCoV, according to an article posted on the bioRxiv preprint server by researchers at Deargen and Dankook University in South Korea, and Emory University in Atlanta—the latest report in GEN’s ongoing coverage of the 2019-nCoV novel coronavirus outbreak. (Alex Philippidis – Geneng News)
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February 17-23, 2020
Duterte scraps VFA; wrong move, says Pentagon When asked whether he would try to persuade Duterte to reconsider his decision to scrap the VFA, Trump said: “Well I never minded that very much, to be honest. We helped the Philippines very much. We helped them defeat ISIS ... I don’t really mind if they would like to do that, it will save a lot of money. My views are different from others.” Duterte junked the VFA after Washington cancelled the visa of former national police chief and now Senator Ronald dela Rosa. He also lambasted the United States for interfering with the country’s political affairs and its criticism of the government’s deadly war on drugs which Dela Rosa engineered through the so-called Oplan Tokhang when he was the chief of the Philippine National Police. Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said: “Aside
from the inequities brought about by the provisions found in the VFA, the decision of the President to cause the termination of the said agreement is a consequence of a series of legislative and executive actions by the US government that bordered on assaulting our sovereignty and disrespecting our judicial system. In addition, the President believes that our country cannot forever rely on other countries for the defense of the state and should instead strengthen our own resources for our defenses.” Panelo said Duterte will not entertain any initiative coming from the American government to salvage the VFA, neither will he accept any official invitation to visit the United States. “All these actions are anchored on the policy of PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) to chart an independent for-
Defense Secretary Mark Thomas Esper (U.S. Army Photo by Monica A. Kin) eign policy with our foreign relations with other states being based on national interests and general welfare,” he said. Defense Secretary Mark Thomas Esper reacting on Duterte’s termination of the VFA told reporters: “I do think it would be a move in
Sedition charges dropped against 4 bishops Continued from page 1 David of Kalookan, Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao, and Bishop Emeritus Tedoro Bacani of Novaliches, along with Fr. Robert Reyes and Br. Armin Luistro, were initially charged with inciting sedition, cyber libel, libel, and obstruction of justice in July 2019. The country’s vice president, Leni Robredo, and 35 members of the opposition party were also charged with the same crimes last summer. While the charges against the six bishops and priests were dropped, the Justice Department announced that it was charging two additional priests with “conspiracy to commit sedition,” Fr. Albert Alejo, and Fr. Flavie Villanueva. Nine Catholics lay people were also charged with the same offence. The bishops, who maintained their innocence since the accusations were made, offered mixed reactions to the news that they had been cleared but others charged. “Now that the government officials have seen the falsity of the charges, what can we do but pray as I have always been doing. I pray even more,” Archbishop Villegas said in a statement published by the Philippine Bishops’ Conference. “I pray for those who concocted the calumnies and lies and wish them peace,” he said. “My revenge is forgiveness for my slanderers who relentlessly mock me.” Villegas said that he was praying for the newly-charged priests, and said that “the Lord will turn your anxieties into hope. Do not be afraid.” Bishop David said that he was “happy and sad” at the news that the charges against him were dropped, but other charges were filed. “I still hope and pray that the charges against them be also dismissed soon by the courts,” David told UCA News, a Catholic news website based in Asia. The dismissal of the charges against the bishops is the end of a series of events that began with a viral video last April. The video, posted by an anonymous man, known only as “Bikoy,” alleged that Duterte’s son, Paolo
Duterte, and a high-level presidential aide were involved in the drug trade. “Bikoy” later identified himself as Peter Advincula, and claimed that the bishops, along with the opposition party, were part of a “shadow group” that aimed to remove Duterte as president. That video led to the charges being filed against the six clerics. The country’s Catholic bishops have long been vocal in their opposition to Duterte, including his “war on drugs,” which critics have claimed has led to extrajudicial killings. Duterte has been vocal in his dislike of religion, and a consistent critic of the Catholic Church. Bishop Broderick Pabillo, an auxiliary bishop of the capital city of Manila, was recently named the archdiocese’s apostolic administrator after Cardinal Chito Tagle was appointed by the pope to serve as head of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in the Vatican. Pabillo has been a consistent critic of Duterte throughout his presidency. In June 2018, he accused Duterte of blasphemy, after the president called God “stupid” and a “son of a bitch” during a speech. The bishop also publicly condemned Duterte’s claim that the majority of Filipino priests were homosexual. Later that month, Duterte said that he was willing to dialogue with the country’s bishops’ conference in an effort to repair relationships, and the president’s spokesperson, Salvador Panelo, announced that a committee would be created to better collaborate and communicate with the Catholic hierarchy. In November 2018, Bishop David urged his flock to pray for Duterte, who he called a “very sick man.” The following month, Duterte said that citizens should “kill and steal” from Catholic bishops, stating that “this stupid bunch serves no purpose, all they do is criticize.” Pope Francis has also been insulted by Duterte. In 2016, prior to his election as president, he called the pontiff a “son of a whore” after a papal visit caused increased traffic in Manila. Duterte later apologized to the pope in a letter. (CNA)
the wrong direction as -- as we both bilaterally with the Philippines and collectively with a number of other partners and allies in the region are trying to say to the Chinese: “You must obey the international rules of order. You must obey, you know, abide by international norms.” He added: “And as we try and, you know, bolster our presence and compete with them in this era of great power competition, I think it’s a move in the wrong direction for -- for, again, for the longstanding relationship we’ve had with the Philippines for their strategic location, the ties between our peoples, our countries.”
Esper said the United States received the notification of Duterte’s termination of the VFA. “We’ve got to read it. We’ve got to digest it. One hundred and eighty days. We’ve got to work through it, and -- and we’ll just take a deep breath and take it one day at a time. We have to work through the policy angles, the military angles. I’m going to hear from my commanders. But you know, in my view, it’s unfortunate that they would make this move.” The United States Embassy in Manila said the termination of the VFA will have significant implications, branding Duterte’s move as “serious.” “This is a serious step with significant implications for the US-Philippines alliance,” the Embassy said, adding, Washington will carefully consider how best to move forward to advance shared interests. “Our two countries enjoy a warm relationship, deeply rooted in history. We remain committed to the friendship between our two peoples,” it said. Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said: “With the formal serving of the notice of termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement, this year’s planned military exercises with the
Americans shall proceed as scheduled within the 180 days that the VFA remains in force. However, our American counterparts may opt to discontinue the scheduled exercises before the 180 days are up. Once the termination is final, we will cease to have exercises with them.” Senator Panfilo Lacson, who also served as national police chief, said the Philippines stands to lose more with the termination of the VFA. “Like it or not, bad or good, nothing much can be done now but do a 180-day countdown upon receipt of the notice by Washington. What is certain is that the 1951 PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty will now be reduced to a mere paper treaty as far as the US is concerned.” “Having said that, there’s no more intelligence information sharing in our fight against domestic and foreign terrorist acts, no more US military aid and financing that accounts for a good 52% of what they extend to the whole Asia-Pacific region. That may not include other intangible economic benefits and security from external threats in the West Philippine Sea, as well as humanitarian aid in times of disasters, epidemics and other crises,” he added. (Mindanao Examiner)
ABS-CBN shutdown is political harassment: HRW Continued from page 1 has all the indications of political harassment. This is clearly an attempt by the Duterte government to intimidate or control ABS-CBN, which has aired and published critical reporting on the government, including its deadly war on drugs,” said Carlos Conde, researcher at the Human Rights Watch – Asia. He said with the network’s legislative franchise renewal pending before Congress, the case filed by Calida applies undue pressure on legislators who could be forced to toe the Duterte government’s line against the media company. Already, some legislators have stated that this cause could jeopardize the franchise renewal, which ends March 30. “President Duterte has not made secret his displeasure toward ABS-CBN and has expressed his intention to shut it down. This case by the government’s chief lawyer underscores Duterte’s determination to shutter the network, in the same manner that he has gone after the news website Rappler for its critical reportage of the
war on drugs,” Conde said. But Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo denied all allegations against Duterte and said “the President need not instruct the heads of executive offices to fulfil their mandate as it is expected that they are to pursue their respective duties imposed upon them by law, rules and regulations. This is the case when Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a quo warranto petition before the Supreme Court for the revocation of the legislative franchise of ABS-CBN on February 10.” “Causing the forfeiture of a franchise is different from not granting a franchise. The former is exercised by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) in accordance with its legal mandate, while the latter is undertaken by Congress pursuant to its legislative powers,” he added. Panelo said it is for this reason that members of the Congress need not fret as there is no encroachment upon their authority as a result of the recent undertaking by the OSG and should they wish to grant ABS-CBN a new franchise or
renew the same, then it is within their independent prerogative to do so. He said the remarks of Duterte against ABS-CBN are utterances of displeasure “as he felt deceived by the latter for receiving the former’s money for campaign advertisements without even airing them.” ABS-CBN said Calida’s quo warranto case on alleged violations of its franchise appears to be an effort to shut down the network to the serious prejudice of millions of Filipinos who rely on it for news, entertainment and public service. It said Calida’s allegations are without merit, saying, ABS-CBN complies with all pertinent laws governing its franchise and has secured all necessary government and regulatory approvals for its business operations. “We reiterate that everything we do is in accordance with the law. We did not violate the law. This case appears to be an attempt to deprive Filipinos of the services of ABS-CBN,” it said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner
February 17-23, 2020
Sulu Pictures in the News
Photos from the Office of the Provincial Governor
Governor Abdusakur M. Tan with Mindanap Development Authority Secretary Manny PiĂąol, Jolo Mayor Kerkhar S. Tan and Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr, visit Takut-Takut, one of 3 villages razed by fire on February 3 in the capital town of Jolo. PiĂąol is tasked by President Duterte to oversee the rehabilitation of the affected villages. (Sulu PDRRMO)
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Basilan Gov. Jim Hataman Salliman together Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan and other officials during a meeting with Presiden Duterte on February 10 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. (Photos from the Facebook page of Basilan provincial government.)
Sulu Rep. Samier Tan, House chairman of the sub-committee on police administration, poses with National Police Chief Archie Francisco Gamboa during a recent visit at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
The Municipal Peace and Order Council headed by Municipal Mayor Hja. Shihla Tan Hayudini held its regular meeting to discuss the formulation of possible solutions or measures to address the issue on illegal drugs and address the issues concerning peace and order in the municipality.
Sulu Rep. Samier Tan, House chairman of the sub-committee on police administration, poses with Philippine National Police officials after a recent hearing in Congress.
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The Mindanao Examiner
February 17-23, 2020
Kabasalan folks band to protect, sustain environment ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY – Villagers and stakeholders in the town of Kabasalan in the southern province of Zamboanga Sibugay have turned an impoverished coastal community into a bustling center of development and environmental conservation.
In the village of Concepcion, they worked hard for the re-emergence of marine resources – fighting illegal fishing and mangrove planting in Sibuguey Bay. In a learning exchange organized by Peace and Equity Foundation (PEF) with
the fisher folk from Padre Burgos in the village of Quezon, the chairman of the Kapunungan ng Gagmay Mangingisda ng Concepcion (KGMC), Roberto Ballon told a story of revival that brought their community to be one of the most successful and
Northern Bukidnon State College has new president CAGAYAN DE ORO – Dr. Catherine Roween C. Almaden has been named as the new president of the Northern Bukidnon State College in Manolo Fortich town. Almaden earned her doctorate degree in development studies from the University of the Philippines Los Baños with support from the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture as a SEARCA PhD research scholar. She completed her Master of Art in Economics in 2007 at University of San Carlos. She taught Macroeconomics, Economics of Development, Public Finance, Research in Economics, and Environment Economics at Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan since 1998. She became Dean of its Graduate School in 2019.
inspiring when it comes to community empowerment. “Noong 1960s at 1970s marami talagang isda dito. Ang ilog dati ay malalim. Ngunit nang dumating ang ibang mga tao mula sa Luzon at Visayas, nagsimulang magbago ang lugar,” Ballon said, narrating how the mangroves were destroyed by other fishermen and effectively blocking the flow of the river to pave way for fishponds and eventually resulted in fewer catch. “Nang bumaba ang kita ng mga mangingisda, pumasok sila sa mga illegal activities. Noong may pumasok na commercial fishers, nagkaroon ng dynamite at cyanide fishing. Ginawa din ito ng mga mangingisda dito,” he said.
The unabated destruction of environment and subsequent loss of income forced Ballon and other villagers to swiftly act and stop it. And with the help of Xavier Agricultural Extension Service Foundation and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, KGMC members began planting mangroves and trained as “bantay-dagat” to patrol the sea against illegal activities. The successful planting of mangroves has brought back fish in Sibuguey Bay and seeing its effect on the environment, the local government passed a resolution that protected the mangrove forest in the entire town. “Nire-recognize namin ang local government ng Kabasalan na aming partner
to pursue coastal protection programs and other projects that will benefit the people and the community. Ngayon nararamdaman namin ang suporta nila,” Ballon said, adding, all coastal protection programs by the local government are now being consulted with KGMC. The convergence has brought prosperity to Concepcion, with some households able to send their children to school, buy appliances, and provide for their basic needs, according to organizers. The success of the community later expanded through a provincial organization founded by Ballon, the Coalition of Municipal Association of Zamboanga Sibugay. (Zamboanga Post)
More face masks in market assured
Dr. Catherine Roween C. Almaden A prolific researcher, Almaden published numerous journal and book articles as well as text-
books in the field of economics, ecology, mining, and water supply. (Mindanao Examiner)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Northern Mindanao said it is taking measures to address the shortage of face masks, especially N95 and N88, following the outbreak of the deadly Wuhan coronavirus in China which has infected tens of thousands of people around the world, including the Philippines. DTI said prices of face masks have also increased due to the dwindling supplies and huge demand in the country. Private and online sellers
jacked the prices of N95 and N88 and even surgical masks by as much as 500%. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez also directed the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) to source out five million masks from suppliers overseas. PITC is currently awaiting response from face mask suppliers in Thailand and Vietnam. He said a Filipino supplier based in Bataan, MedTecs International Corporation, has already committed to produce two million
pieces of face masks every month. He said MedTecs has partially supplied 125,000 N88 face masks to DTI and 70,000 were donated to the Department of Health and DTI regional offices and attached agencies. Lopez said the next batch of deliveries will make available 80,000 face masks which will be donated to the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) and distribute them masks to more than 100 Red Cross offices nationwide. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner
February 17-23, 2020
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Simpleng Paraan Para Makaiwas sa Cancer Nakakatakot ang sakit na kanser dahil mahirap itong gamutin. Sa kanser, ang mga selula ng katawan ay bigla na lang nagbabago ng anyo at nagiging masama. Hindi pa alam ng mga doktor ang tunay na sanhi nito. May kanser sa utak, sa baga, sa ilong, sa atay, sa bituka, sa colon, sa pancreas at sa balat. Iba’t ibang lugar ang pinagmumulan. Ang paniniwala ng mga cancer specialist ay may mga “triggers” o nagpapasimula ng kanser. Ang mga payong ito ay hindi pa tiyak, pero magandang sun-
din pa rin natin ito: 1. Iwas sa sigarilyo at alak – Makaiiwas tayo sa kanser sa baga, atay at tiyan. 2. Iwas sa polusyon at usok ng sasakyan. 3. Iwas sa matitinding sikat ng araw. Gumamit ng sunblock. Puwede kasi itong magdulot ng kanser sa balat. 4. Iwas sa mga sunog na pagkain o “smoked” foods tulad ng mga tinapa at barbeque. Puwede kasing may mga nagdudulot ng kanser dito. 5. Magbawas sa alat tu-
lad ng patis, toyo, bagoong, alamang. Hindi pa ito tiyak, pero ayon sa espesyalista, puwedeng magising ang mga selula natin at maging kanser ang mga ito. 6. Iwas sa mga lamang loob tulad ng bopis, dinuguan, bituka at iba pa. Hindi po ito malinis at baka magdulot ng masama sa katawan. 7. Iwas sa pagkaing kalye. Umiwas sa mga maduduming pagkain sa kalye tulad ng fishball, kweck-kweck at betamax. 8. Magbawas sa pagkain ng “processed meats”
tulad ng hotdog, langonisa, sausage, bologna at iba pa. 9. Magbawas sa pritong pagkain. 10. Iwas sa karneng baka at baboy. Tanggalin ang lahat ng taba. 11. Kumain ng maraming gulay at prutas. Puwedeng kumain ng manok paminsan-minsan. Mas mahaba ang buhay ng mga vegetarian. 12. Iwas sa galit, inis at iba pang negatibong emosyon. Naniniwala ako na ang positibong pananaw sa buhay ay makapagpapalalakas ng katawan at mag-
papahaba din ng inyong buhay. 13. Maging aktibo at mag-exercise palagi. 14. Alamin ang inyong lahi. Kung may lahi kayo ng breast cancer, magpasuri ng suso bawat 6 na buwan. Kung may lahi kayo ng kanser sa tiyan, magpa-ultrasound o CT Scan ng tiyan. 15. Magpa-check up sa doktor kada 6 na buwan. Ikonsulta ang kahit anong nararamdaman. Makatutulong ang doktor para makita ang inyong sakit.
Probe begins on suspected narco cops NATIONAL POLICE Chief General Archie Francisco Gamboa has ordered an investigation into the alleged involvement of some 357 policemen in the illegal drug trade. Gamboa said the investigation will last about a month. “We expect to do so in a period of one month,” he said, adding, the probe is part of the continuing cleansing among police ranks to weed out scalawags. He said the results of the investigation and recommendation of what actions to take would be submited to President Rodrigo Duterte. “We ourselves are going to process them, adjudicate, and validate the information that they are involved and hopefully those who are innocent may clear their names but those who are not may face the full force of the law,” Gamboa said. Gamboa decline to name the policemen in the so-called narco list, but said among them are officers, including a general. He said those in the list are presumed inno-
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte discusses matters with PNP Chief Police General Archie Gamboa on the sidelines of the Philippine Navy Change of Command Ceremony at the Naval Station Jose V. Andrada in Manila on February 3, 2020. Karl Norman Alonzo/Presidential photo cent pending the outcome of the investigation. “The process aims to establish substantial proof against these police officers that can be used as a basis for filing charges against them,” he said. He said these cops would be processed through the regional, national support unit, or directorial staff adjudication boards, where they will be heard and adjudicated for a week. For the next three weeks, the PNP National
Adjudication Board, led by Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan, deputy chief for administration, would take action on those on the list. Intelligence from different groups, such as Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, would bolster the validation, Gamboa said, adding, those who would be proven to have no connection with illegal drugs will be removed from the drug watch list. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan)
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Taiwan appeals travel ban ‘Is China behind Manila’s move?’ T
Taiwan says it will continue to requisition all domestically produced surgical masks and maintain its ban on their export until the end of April. (CNA)
Maxim, InDriver operate illegally in Cebu: LTFRB CEBU CITY - The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Central Visayas is monitoring Maxim, a Russian ride-hailing application that is illegally operating in Cebu. Eduardo Montealto Jr., LTFRB regional director, said that Maxim has not been accredited nor given a permit by the agency and yet continues to operate here. He said there are many unaccredited transport network vehicle service operating in Cebu and using apps that are not registered with the LTFRB. He said two cars had been apprehended by the Highway Pa-
trol Group and LTFRB for using Maxim and last month, six more cars were also intercepted by authorities for illegally operating using inDriver ride-hailing app. Owners of the vehicles face a hefty fine from P120,000 to P200,000 for operating without a franchise. Maxim is an international service for ordering a car via the app, website or call center. The service provides informational services — it generates a database for transportation orders and grants the independent carriers online access to it. Since 2014, the service has launched its operations in neighboring countries and beyond. It has been providing its services in
the Republic of Belarus since 2017. While inDriver is also an international ride-hailing service headquartered in Mountain View, California. The company’s chief innovation is its p2p-based RTD (Real Time Deals) model: riders enter their destination on the inDriver app, and put the price they are willing to pay for a trip. Then this ride request goes to nearby inDriver drivers who can either accept the offer, decline it or send a counteroffer if the driver would like to get a higher fare. The service was founded in 2013 in the Russian port city of Yakutsk. (John Rey Saavedra. With additional report from Cebu Examiner.)
HE PHILIPPINE Airlines (PAL), Cebu Pacific (CEB), and AirAsia Philippines have cancelled all flights to and from Taiwan after Manila imposed a temporary ban due to outbreak of the Wuhan coronavirus. Manila first issued a Civil Aeronautics Board fected by the ban should travel ban February 2 on all (CAB) and the Bureau of Taipei retaliates against tourists from China and its Immigration (BI) on Feb- the Philippines. The One-China PolSpecial Administrative Re- ruary 10. “The Republic of Chi- icy can be traced back to gions - Hong Kong and Macao –to prevent the spread na (Taiwan) is a sovereign 1949 and the end of the of the disease, and includ- and independent state. Chinese civil war after Taiwan issues its own pass- the defeated Nationaled Taiwan a week later. There were reports port and visas and has ex- ists, also known as the that Beijing allegedly pres- clusive jurisdiction over Kuomintang, retreated to sured Manila to strongly its people and territory. In Taiwan and made it their abide by the “One-China fact, Taiwan is not, nor has seat of government while Policy” and include Taiwan it ever been, part of the the victorious Commuin the expanded travel ban. PRC. Taiwan has taken all nists began ruling the Beijing has strongly main- measures needed to con- mainland as the People’s tained that Taiwan is part tain the spread of the 2019 Republic of China. Novel Coronavirus (2019Since then China has of China. threatened to use force if The Civil Aeronau- nCoV),” it said. “It is a factual error for Taiwan ever formally detics Board (CAB) said the imposition of the travel the World Health Organiza- clares independence. Former Senator Franban was due to increasing tion (WHO) to regard Taiconcern about the spread wan as a part of PRC (Peo- cis Escudero, now Sorsoof the virus and because ples Republic of China). gon governor, also quesmany people did not want The Philippines should not tioned Manila’s travel to travel, local carriers be misled by WHO’s wrong ban. “Why was Taiwan inwere prompted to cancel information on Taiwan. No flights to and from China, other countries in Asia, ex- cluded in the travel ban? Hong Kong and Macao, cept the Philippines, have It is clearly separate and issued travel ban on Tai- distinct from mainland Taiwan included. Both PAL and CEB wan. We urge the Philip- China and is similarly sitare offering Manila-Tai- pine government to imme- uated in relation to othpei-Manila routes, while diately correct its decision er countries with CORAirAsia Philippines has on Taiwan and remove Tai- VID-19 (Corona Virus routes to Taipei and Kaoh- wan from the travel ban,” it Disease 2019). Is the basis for political rather than siung from Manila, Clark, added. Taiwan’s Foreign Af- for health reasons? It’s and Cebu. Health Secretary Fran- fairs Ministry also tweeted just unfair to a lot of Filicisco Duque said denied this: “@WHO, what’s wrong pinos in Taiwan,” he said. WHO chief Tedros the travel ban was polit- with you? First you called ically motivated or has us “Taiwan, China,” then Adhanom Ghebreyesus something to do with the you changed to “Taipei.” also said there was no You misreported the con- need for measures that One-China Policy. Taiwan has appealed firmed cases, & now you unnecessarily interfere to Manila to lift the travel call us “Taipei & Environs.” with international travel Look! Taiwan is #Taiwan & and trade in trying to halt ban. the spread of a coronaviThe Taipei Economic not any part of the #PRC.” Taiwan has over a doz- rus in China. and Cultural Office in Ma“We call on all counnila has expressed its grave en cases of coronavirus, to implement concern about the travel but no reports of death tries decisions that are evban, in which Taiwan was from the disease. wrongly included. There are nearly idence-based and consisTaiwan’s inclusion in 200,000 Filipinos working tent,” Tedros said. (Cebu the ban was issued by the in Taiwan and could be af- Examiner, PNA.)
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