Tan, Arbison friends again ‘Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi rejoice’ A photo posted by Tawi-Tawi Rep. Ruby Sahali shows her (left) and Deputy Speaker Munir Arbison, (2nd from left) and Sulu Governor Sakur Tan (3rd from left) and Arbison’s wife Maryam, and also Sahali’s father, former Tawi-Tawi Governor Sadikul Sahali.
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SULU – Tausugs have rejoiced the peace pact between Sulu Governor Sakur Tan and Deputy Speaker Munir Arbison and even those in the Muslim provinces of Basilan and Tawi-Tawi supported the reconciliation of the two powerful and influential politicians in the South. Tan and Arbison em- tween) Governor Sakur braced the peace accord Tan, of Sulu, and Conand promising to pursue gressman Munir Arbison. peace and development, And witnessed by Deputy and unity for everyone. Speaker Mujiv Hataman, Tawi-Tawi Rep. Ruby Sulu mayors, my father, Sahali and his father, for- family and supporters in mer Governor Sadikul a peace pact that would Sahali and their allies usher in peace and develwitnessed the peace pact. opment to Sulu,” Sahali “I am happy to witness said. this historic moment (beSahali also posted
photos and videos of the reconciliation with Tan alongside Arbison and other personalities, including Hataman. And just recently, Tan led a huge delegation to Arbison’s stronghold in Luuk town in Sulu’s 2nd legislative district and met with the lawmaker’s family and allies. Tan was accompanied by his wife, Nurunisah Tan and son, Vice Governor Toto Tan; Continue on page 2
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Mayors ini-imbestigahan! ‘Utos ni Duterte: Kasuhan kung may kasalanan’
M
AHIGPIT ANG kautusan ni Pangulong Duterte na dapat maunang mabakunahan ang mga medical frontliners at healthcare workers at ipinagutos nito ang masusing imbestigasyon at pagsampa ng reklamo laban sa mga mayors at iba pa na naturukan ng Covid-19 vaccine kahit wala sila sa listahan ng priority ng pamahalaan. Kabilang sa mga lalobos, ng Santo Niño, sa Torres ng Alicia sa Bohol; mayors na nagpaturok South Cotabato rin; May- Mayor Virgilio Mendez ng ng bakuna ay sina is or Noel Rosal, ng Legazpi San Miguel sa Bohol pa Mayor Alfred Romual- City sa Albay; Mayor Abra- rin; Mayor Arturo Piollo II dez, ng Tacloban City, ham Ibba, ng Bataraza sa ng Lila sa Bohol. Leyte; Mayor Dibu Tuan, Palawan; Mayor Elanito Maging ang artistang ng T’boli sa South Cota- Peña, ng Minglanilla sa si Mark Anthony bato; Mayor Sulpicio Vil- Cebu; Mayor Victoriano Continue on page 2
Chinese ‘militia’ vessels swarm off Palawan THE U.S. State Department is standing by the Philippines in its latest Continue on page 2
Whitsun Reef, also known as Julian Felipe Reef, is part of the Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea. (NASA), Inset - A Philippine Coast Guard photo shows Chinese vessels are anchored off Julian Felipe Reef near Palawan province.
MNLF gathering thwarted
LOCAL AUTHORITIES pre-empted a supposed gathering of Moro Na-
ARMM
tional Liberation Front members in Zamboanga City following reports by
civilians and barangay officials. Police and military together with barangay officials of Pamucutan held a dialogue with former rebels who were planning to gather for the MNLF’s 53rd anniversary celebration. Mayor Beng Climaco along with Pamucutan Barangay Continue on page 5
Eastern Mindanao
President Rodrigo Duterte (PCOO).
Police warn rogue cops ZAMBOANGA CITY – Police have warned rogue cops anew following the arrest of 5 policemen, including an officer, in Zamboanga City on allegations of robbery and extortion. The suspects were arrested after they allegedly robbed jewelleries and extorted money from a store owner during a drug raid, according to Brig. Gen. Ronaldo Genaro Ylagan, the regional police chief. He said among those arrested was Maj. Orlyn Leyte, police station Continue on page 6
Western Mindanao
PNP Chief, General Guillermo Eleazar.
Cebu
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Mayors ini-imbestigahan! ‘Utos ni Duterte: Kasuhan kung may kasalanan’
Continued from page 1 Fernandez ay nabakunahan rin kahit hindi
naman ito medical frontliner. “So to make a sto-
ry --- a long story short, mag-execute na lang ng affidavit and why --- result
Chinese ‘militia’ vessels swarm off Palawan Continued from page 1 run-in with China over disputed sea territory. The Duterte government protested the presence of over 220 Chinese fishing vessels, believed manned by militias, spotted by the Philippine Coast Guard near Julian Felipe Reef in the Spratly Islands. The two countries are at odds over their respective claims to the Spratlys. The Chinese Embassy in Manila says the ships are fishing vessels taking shelter from rough seas. But, in a diplomatic protest, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) complained that “their swarming and threatening presence creates an atmosphere of instability,” and infringes the nation’s sovereignty, the Reuters news agency reported. Also called Whitsun, the boomerang-shaped reef lies about 175 nautical miles west of the Palawan province and inside the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. The ships’ presence is a “clear provocative action of militarizing the area” and China should recall them, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said, according to Reuters. In his tweet, State Department spokesman Ned Price said: “The U.S. stands with our ally, the Philippines, regarding concerns about the gathering of (Chinese) maritime militia vessels near Whitsun Reef. We call on Beijing to stop using its maritime militia to intimidate and provoke others, which undermines peace and security.” Chinese fishing vessels frequently assist the coast guard and navy in asserting China’s maritime claims, according to The Associated Press. The U.S. does not recognize China’s claims and conducts frequent freedom-of-navigation patrols in the disputed waters. China’s claim to most of the South China Sea was rejected by an international tribunal in 2016; however, Beijing has ignored the ruling and built military facilities on seven of the disputed Spratly
sites, according to the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative. Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Manila tweeted to the U.S. Embassy twice. The first read: “The United States is not a party to the South China Sea issue. Fanning flames and provoking confrontation in the region will only serve the selfish interests of individual country and undermine the regional peace and stability.” The second said: “Both China and the Philippines are sovereign and independent countries. We have the will, wisdom and ability to properly handle relevant issues through bilateral channels.” The Chinese presence on the reef looks like an effort to expand territorial claims, Patricio Abinales, a Philippines expert at the University of Hawaii, told Stars and Stripes in an email. “They know they can do it because they know the Philippine Navy cannot do anything about it, and the U.S. will not move,” he said. In a report by Rappler, former Justice Antonio Carpio said the presence of hundreds of Chinese vessels near Julian Felipe Reef could be a prelude to China’s occupying of another maritime feature in the West Philippine Sea. Carpio said he was particularly worried that Beijing – by parking hundreds of ships believed to be manned by its maritime militia at the Julian Felipe Reef – was using the same strategy in occupying Mischief Reef in 1995. Mischief Reef is a barely submerged coral reef and spit extending over 15 square nautical miles (nmi 2), some 135 nmi west of Palawan. “This is not the first time they have done this. At the same time last year, in 2020, they also parked a hundred of their ships in Julian Felipe Reef. So this is a prelude to – the way I look at it – this is a prelude to occupying Julian Felipe Reef just like they did to Mischief Reef in 1995,” Carpio said in an interview on ANC’s Headstart. Carpio, one of the legal luminaries that se-
cured the Philippines’ victory over China at an international arbitral tribunal in The Hague, recalled China’s moves to illegally seize Mischief Reef in 1995. “They started saying they were just building a fishermen’s shelter on Mischief Reef; now Mischief Reef is their air and naval base. They call it their Pearl Harbor in the South China Sea – a huge air and naval base,” Carpio said. “I’m particularly worried that they will now start claiming, building on Julian Felipe Reef, just like what they did to Mischief Reef in 1995.” Apart from Mischief Reef, Carpio pointed out that China had also effectively taken control of Sandy Cay, a sandbar just two nautical miles from Pag-asa Island and within the territorial sea of the island. “Now China is doing the same thing to Julian Felipe Reef and we should be very wary of what’s happening in Julian Felipe Reef,” he said. DFA Secretary Teodoro Locsin reacted to Carpio’s warning on Twitter, saying that the Duterte government would not yield “even a nautical iota as PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) declared in the UN (United Nations).” Locsin made the remark in a tweet where he claimed the Philippines and China confronted one another in Mischief Reef, though this took place in Scarborough Shoal in 2012, not in Mischief Reef in 1995. Carpio stressed that while countries, including China, can express the right to navigation, it cannot park hundreds of its vessels in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. “They were saying they took shelter because of a storm, but no storm was anywhere near Julian Felipe Reef,” Carpio said, referring to China’s denial that ships in the area were not manned by militia and instead took shelter from rough sea conditions.(By Seth Robson, Stars and Stripes. With additional reporting from Mindanao Examiner and Rappler.)
of the investigation, and then send it to the Ombudsman. Mayroon ring mga show cause orders,” ani Duterte. Idinahilan naman ng mga mayors na kaya sila nagpaturok ng bakuna ay upang maging halimbawa sa kanilang mga nasasakupan at hindi matakot sa Covid-19 vaccine. “Ang sabi nila na… Ito ‘yong mga ang rason nila I think that is universal excuse na para hindi matakot ‘yong mga constituents. Well, ako, medyo gray area
‘yan na dapat talaga ang una ‘yong mga… Whether or not if they jumped the Covid-19 line of vaccination would require a certain amount of a legal study.” “So ‘yon lang po. Sila ‘yong may show cause order. Bakit sila ang nauna? Instead of following the (protocols), seeing to it that the list is followed religiously at hindi nasunod,” sabi pa ni Duterte. Hindi naman agad mabatid kung bakit napakahigpit ng pamahalaan sa mga mayors na pinuno rin
naman ng mga local Covid task force sa kanilang lugar at maituturing na frontliners. Noon nakaraang taon ay inamin ni Duterte na sikretong naturukan na rin ng Chinese Covid-19 vaccine ang mga miyembro ng Presidential Security Group at mga sundalo kahit wala pa itong approval ng Food and Drud Administration. Ilang opisyal rin ng Gabinete ni Duterte ang nabakunahan ng smuggled vaccines. (Mindanao Examiner)
Tan, Arbison friends again ‘Sulu, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi rejoice’
Continued from page 1 and mayors and provincial board members, and other politicians. Tan and Arbison were not only former allies, but also close friends due to the relationships of their families, but politics eventually divided
them. “It was a warm welcome for Governor Tan’s party and the talks were very cordial and respectful and we are all happy, so happy that they are again friends and political allies. Some can’t even hold back their
tears, their emotion is so strong that this reconciliation between former friends is just what they have prayed for,” one of Tan’s supporters, who asked not to be named, told the Mindanao Examiner. (Mindanao Examiner)
Sulu Governor Sakur Tan led a huge delegation to Deputy Speaker Munir Arbison’s stronghold in Luuk town in Sulu’s 2nd legislative district and met with the lawmaker’s family and allies. Tan was accompanied by his wife, Nurunisah Tan and son, Vice Governor Toto Tan; and mayors and provincial board members, and other politicians. (Jaques Tutong)
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Indonesian police snare 50 Jemaah Islamiyah suspects
Police escort suspected militants upon their arrival at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Indonesia, March 18, 2021. (AP)
Cold storage project for Cagayan de Oro
The Department of Agriculture and City Government of Cagayan de Oro lead the groundbreaking ceremony of a P20-million Monolithic Dome Cold Storage and Packing Facility in the village of Kauswagan. (Retchie Paculba) CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY - Enabling farmers to increase productivity and profitability, the Department of Agriculture and the City Government of Cagayan de Oro led the groundbreaking ceremony of a P20-million cold storage and packing facility here. “The construction of this dome-type storage and packing facility is one of a kind in the region that requires advanced engineering or construction technology. This facility will extend the shelf life of highly-perishable commodities and reduce
post-harvest losses of the farmers in Cagayan de Oro City and northern Mindanao as a whole,” said DA Regional Executive Director Carlene Collado. The construction of the 350 ton capacity facility in Kauswagan is funded through the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2) under High Value Crops Development Program. “We are honored and certainly we will take care of it. Alam namin na malaking tulong ito (We know that this is a big help) not just in Cagayan de Oro but also in the whole of north-
ern Mindanao,” Mayor Oscar Moreno said. Moreno urged the beneficiaries to take care of the facility emphasizing that stimulus projects should produce results and “it’s a one-way street kung hindi makapag-produce and the government may not have funds anymore to suffice the needs of the farmers.” The storage will have 2 loading docks, a pre-cooling room with areas for washing and rinsing, sorting, palletizing and office with a total area of 500 square meters. (Recthie Paculba)
INDONESIAN POLICE said they had arrested five more members of the Jemaah Islamiyah militant network as part of a dragnet that has snared nearly 50 suspects from the alQaeda-linked group in recent weeks, a spokesman said. One of the suspects arrested recently – and who authorities identified only by his initials A.M. – was picked up in Tangerang, near the capital Jakarta, while the four others were caught in North Sumatra province, national police spokesman Brig. Gen. Rusdi Hartono said. “A.M. was in charge of fundraising and was also tasked with conducting entrepreneurship training for all JI members,” Rusdi said in a statement. The 54-year-old suspect is believed to have taught other members business skills so they could contribute money to Jemaah Islamiyah, Rusdi said. Indonesian authorities blame JI for the country’s deadliest terror attacks – twin bombings that killed 202 people in Bali in October 2002. The police spokesman did not provide details about the suspects arrested in North Sumatra, but said officers had seized 31 donation boxes from the men. The anti-terror police unit Densus 88 announced it had nabbed 22 other suspects in recent raids in Jakarta and Sumatra. With the latest arrests, police have rounded up at least 49 JI suspects since late February. Police said most of them were linked to an East Java cell led by a militant named Fahim, a senior JI figure who was arrested on February 26. Alms collecting organizations The seizure of donation boxes underscored recent police findings that JI was raising funds using publicly placed charity boxes. Late last year, police said JI had used cash from more than 20,000 charity
boxes set up at restaurants and convenience stores in seven provinces. “They placed most of the boxes in conventional food stalls because they do not need special permits. They only need to ask permission from stall owners,” national police spokesman Argo Yuwono said in December. JI members contributed between 5 and 10 percent of their monthly income to the organization, according to the Center for Radicalism and Deradicalization Studies (PAKAR), a private Indonesian think-tank. JI spent 2.4 billion rupiah (U.S. $166,000) to send members to Syria to undergo military training from 2013 to 2018, PAKAR estimated. House of Representatives member Rudi Hartono Bangun called on the government to monitor organizations that collect alms, or zakat, from Muslims, because of fears that such money could be used to fund terrorism. “We must not allow terrorists to get operational funds from zakat paid by citizens,” he told a parliamentary hearing with the National Alms Agency (Baznas) and the Indonesian Islamic Endowment Board (BWI). Only 11 percent of funds raised by charities affiliated with militant groups was used for social and religious activities, according to Garnadi Walanda Dharmaputra, a researcher at the International Association for Counter-terrorism & Security Professionals, who cited a study by this group. JI in Sabah Police in Sabah also arrested more than 80 Jemaah Islamiyah suspects from 2014 to 2020, including foreigners, state police commissioner Hazani Ghazali told BenarNews.. Among the foreigners arrested were suspects from Indonesia and the Philippines, Hazani told a local newspaper Daily Express last month.
He said Sabah could see attacks similar to the Bali bombings of 2002 and the attack on the J.W. Marriott hotel in Jakarta a year later, if law enforcement did not monitor and halt JI activities. In Indonesia, police have stepped up arrests of suspected JI members since late last year. Last November and December, police announced the arrest of Aris Sumarsono (also known as Zulkarnaen), JI’s military commander during the 2002 Bali bombings, and Upik Lawanga, who police said was an expert bomb maker. Aris had been on the run from the authorities for 18 years. Upik was allegedly involved in several attacks in Central Sulawesi province between 2004 and 2006. JI’s overall leader, Para Wijayanto, was sentenced to seven years in prison last July. Although Indonesia banned Jemaah Islamiyah in 2008, the government gave it space and autonomy to engage in social welfare, charitable, educational and religious activities, as long as its members eschewed violence, counter-terrorism analysts had said. “Indeed, in 2018, some Indonesian officials naively saw JI as a potential off-ramp for members of Islamic State and sought JI’s assistance in de-radicalization programs in exchange for a green light to operate,” scholars Zachary Abuza and Alif Satria said in a column for BenarNews last December. JI has also used the Indonesian government’s lenience to rebuild its core foundations systematically, and has set up palm-oil plantations in Sumatra and Kalimantan to fund its leaders and expansion, they wrote. (Benar News by Ronna Nirmala in Jakarta and Amy Chew in Kuala Lumpur contributed to this report.)
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Sulu Pictures in the News Sulu provincial government at work. This is where your taxes go. (Photos from the Office of the Provincial Governor, Jaques Tutong, Task Force Covid-19, and Jolo Municipal Government)
Malaybalay worries over African swine fever
Photos from the Provincial Veterinary Office show how the Bukidnon provincial government intensified its campaign against the African Swine Fever. MALAYBALAY CITY – The African swine fever has reached other provinces in northern Mindanao and threatening the pig industry. Bukidnon Provincial Veterinary Officer Dr. Nancy Diez has urged pig raisers to better sell their animals before the virus reaches the city. “If your pig is ready for sale, you better dispose of it now or lose it soon,” he said. Diez advice came after reports confirmed the presence of the ASF in the provinces. He said that while geographic entries to Bukidnon have been guarded strictly by the government, there is no concrete assurance that the ASF can be prevented from slipping in through its porous borders. Even so, the
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provincial government has mobilized ASF watch units and volunteers in the villages to monitor for ASF infections. Diez told swine raisers whose pigs are still unmarketable to have it covered by an insurance agency of the government. The timely advice and warning of the provincial veterinary office came as this deadly malady of the swine now looms foreboding over the thousand raisers here. They are mostly small-time and obviously ‘cannot afford to lose’ farmers. The latest data from Philippine Statistics Authority showed that Bukidnon has 610,599 hogs, the highest recorded inventory of swine in Northern Mindanao. The prov-
ince also posted the biggest increase in swine inventory by 5.6 percent. Other provinces which posted increases in inventory next to Bukidnon are Misamis Occidental and Misamis Oriental. According to the World Organization for Animal Health, the ASF virus is transmitted by direct contact, ingestion of garbage or swill feeds containing unprocessed infected pig meat or pig meat products, ticks and biting flies, and contaminated premises, vehicles, equipment and clothing. While not a human health threat, the ASF is capable of annihilating the entire swine industry. As of yet, no vaccine or treatment exists to combat the virus. (RLRB)
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Quick byVaccine Facts Dr. Edsel Salvana 1. It takes about two weeks from the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine to get SOME protection from disease. FULL protection won’t be attained until 2 WEEKS AFTER THE 2nd dose. Continue sticking to face shield and face mask even AFTER getting vaccinated because you can still get infected, and you can still be a carrier even after completion of the 2 doses. But your chances of dying from COVID-19 will be miniscule once the protection kicks in. 2. NONE of the current COVID-19 vaccines can cause COVID-19. They will NOT cause you to have a positive RTPCR. The only type of vaccine that can do that is a live attenuated SARS CoV-2 virus vaccine and we do NOT have that vaccine platform yet available for use. The killed virus, mRNA, viral vector and spike protein vaccines will not cause a false positive RT-PCR or antigen test. They MAY cause a positive ANTIBODY test but this is not consistent enough with the different antibody kits to be used to determine whether the vaccine worked or not. 3. If you develop RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS (cough, colds, sore throat) after vaccination, that is UNLIKELY from vaccination. You need to get a COVID-19 RT-PCR ASAP. 4. You DO NOT need an RT-PCR or antibody test before or after vaccination. However, make sure you have
no symptoms or recent (within 14 days) close contact with a confirmed case since you might be incubating. It isn’t harmful for someone to get a COVID-19 vaccine even if they are incubating, but it may not work. 5. There is no need to check antibody levels after vaccination because we do not yet know what levels are protective, or if it represents neutralizing antibody. There are also no commercially available tests that measure CELL-MEDIATED immunity which is thought to play a MAJOR role in preventing severe COVID-19. 6. There is urgency in the highest risk groups like healthcare workers getting vaccinated especially in light of the recent surge. A day CAN make a difference since it takes a while for the immune response to kick in and healthcare workers are exposed every single day. If we had these vaccines last year, less than 10% of the 2.6 million people who have died from COVID-19 would have died. Please take the first vaccine offered to you if you are eligible so that it can begin protecting you as soon as possible. (The author is the Director of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the National Institutes of Health at the University of the Philippines in Manila, and is Clinical Associate Professor and Research Coordinator at the Section of Infectious Diseases of the Department of Medicine at the Philippine General Hospital.)
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MNLF gathering thwarted Continued from page 1 Chairman Roberto Carpio and members of the police force and the military’s Joint Task Force Zamboanga inspected the area and appealed to MNLF members not to conduct any mass gathering in due respect to the deadly siege of Zamboanga by loyal followers of Nur Misuari in 2013. Security forces have been deployed to the area to ensure that no mass gathering would be held there. Such gathering is also a violation of the community quarantine guidelines of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Climaco and Col. Randolph Rojas, commander of the Joint Task Force Zamboanga, thanked the barangay officials and residents in the area for their vigilance. Rojas said due to mass gathering restrictions brought about by pandemic, all assemblies or activities should be properly coordinated with the local government. He said activities without clearance from the local government task force on Covid-19 will not be permitted. Sieges Supporters of Misuari attacked Zamboanga after declaring independence and their failed attempt to raise the Bangsamoro Republik flag at City Hall. Misuari publicly denied involvement in the siege that displaced over 200,000 people and affected the economies of Basilan and Sulu which are dependent on Zamboanga for their trades and goods. In February, Climaco has given an ultimatum to various local government agencies until August this year to finish the construction of housing units for the remaining 720 families, mostly Muslims, dis-
placed by the MNLF siege. The mayor repeatedly instructed the members of the Local Inter-Agency Committee (LIAC) to ensure the families now living in temporary shelters to resettle in their permanent housing units. “As mayor and chairperson of LIAC, I have given the agencies concerned a deadline until August 2021 to finish the construction of the housing units and award them to the target beneficiaries - the internally displaced people,” she said, adding, “we want our IDPs to know that we have not forgotten them even as we are currently coping with the Covid pandemic,” said Climaco. Last year, Climaco also directed LIAC members to ensure continuity of various projects and programs amid the Covid-19 pandemic to help alleviate the plight of families displaced by the MNLF siege. In 2016, Climaco – who stood firm against the MNLF during the entire period of the crisis – banned any so-called peace rally or gathering of MNLF members in Zamboanga City. She said such rallies will not be allowed as this might disturb Zamboanga anew. “I am giving you a categorical no. You must not disturb Zamboanga anymore. If you want to come up with your rally, make it in your area, Zamboanga will not welcome a rally by MNLF, not at this time because you still have to be accountable with the killings and devastations we are suffering from,” Climaco said in the past. “The destruction wrought by the 2013 siege continues to linger, as internally displaced persons – both Muslims, Christians and Lumads, most of whom are those who eluded the conflicts in Sulu and Basilan – have suffered the brunt of the MNLF attack in Zambo-
anga,” she said. Misuari signed a peace deal with Manila in September 1996 ending decades of bloody war. After the peace agreement was signed, Misuari became the governor of the Muslim autonomous region. But despite the peace accord, he said there was a widespread disillusionment with the weak autonomy they were granted. Under the peace agreement, Manila would have to provide a mini-Marshal Plan to spur economic development in Muslim areas in the south and livelihood and housing assistance to tens of thousands of former rebels to uplift their poor living standards. It was the second attack by MNLF in the past decade. In November 2001, hundreds of MNLF members occupied the Cabatangan Complex and held hostage dozens of civilians, including children; and another group also attacked a military base in Sulu province in an effort to stop the elections in the Muslim autonomous region after Misuari was ousted as governor. More than 100 people were killed in the fighting and in the end, then Mayor Maria Clara Lobregat allowed the attackers to leave Zamboanga in exchange for the hostages. Misuari then escaped by boat to Malaysia, where he had been arrested and deported to the Philippines and was eventually pardoned and released by President Gloria Arroyo in 2004. He also ran several times for governor in Sulu even while under detention, but lost. Now, President Rodrigo Duterte said he wanted to resume the peace process with Misuari and ordered police and military not to arrest the MNLF chieftain. (Zamboanga Post)
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Police warn rogue cops
Continued from page 1 commander in the village of Ayala. He said Leyte was arrested on Monday night by members of the Philippine National Police - Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group (PNPIMEG) led by Lt. Col. Mario Cortez, and other police units. The others who were reportedly involved in the robbery and extortion were SSgts. Hegenio Salvador, Asser Abdulkadim, Cpls. Ismael Sasapan and Juman Arabani – all members of Leyte’s Drug Enforcement Unit. Acting PNP Chief, General Guillermo Eleazar, who received Ylagan’s report, said Leyte and the other policemen will be placed under “automatic leave of absence” while under detention. “The PNP will not tolerate personnel engaging in any unlawful and illegal acts. Officers must serve as role model to their subordinates,” Eleazar said. Undercover cops recovered from Leyte some P90,000 in marked money which was used to pay and settle the case against the store owner, whose identity was not made public by the police for security reason. “The victim was robbed and divested of her jewelleries and a week of her store earnings in the guise of a drug bust operation,” a police report said, adding, the suspects are all facing charges of robbery and extortion and violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standard for
Public Official and Employees. Ylagan said: “The arrest of Maj. Orlyn Leyte in an entrapment operation for complaint of robbery, extortion is the result of PNP’s internal cleansing program. Once again, this Regional Office would like to make it clear that we do not tolerate any wrongdoings of our personnel either officer or members of the ranks.” “While we intensify our campaign against illegal drugs and effectively manage all kinds of police operations, we do not want any unscrupulous schemes devised by our personnel to advance their personal interest. We will continue to cleanse our ranks in order to improve the best quality of law enforcement service in Zamboanga Peninsula.” He said the implementation of the PNP internal cleansing program
is relentless. “The relentless effort of the PNP in the campaign against erring personnel and filing of appropriate charges against them are among the PNP’s step to demonstrate its dedication to quality public service, transparency and accountability,” Ylagan said. In January this year, Maj. Jivertson Pelovello, the chief of the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Zamboanga City Police Office, was also sacked from his post after he tested positive for illegal drug use. He was among 60 members of the local police force who underwent drug testing in December. And in June 2020, undercover police agents also arrested Capt. Haran Ulah, the municipal police chief of Zamboanga del Norte’s Godod town in southern Philippines after he was accused of robbery and extortion. Ulah allegedly demanded P10,000 so-called protection money from treasure hunter Jose Abarca. The money was in exchange for the unhampered treasure hunting activities of Abarca in the village of Raba. Abarca reported the matter and sought the assistance of PNP-IMEG which drew up a plan to arrest the town’s police chief. Ulah was arrested in an entrapment operation at his office after receiving an initial P5,000 in marked money he demanded from Abarca. (Mindanao Examiner)
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HINDI MAAARI KUNG: May edad na mas mababa sa 18 taong gulang May allergy sa polysorbate, polyethylene glycol / PEG, o iba pang sangkap ng bakuna May malubhang allergy matapos tumanggap ng unang dose ng bakuna IPAGPALIBAN MUNA KUNG: May alinman sa mga sumusunod na sintomas: lagnat / panginginig dahil sa lamig, sakit ng ulo, ubo, sipon, pananakit ng lalamunan, pananakit ng kalamnan, pagkapagod, panghihina, kawalan ng panlasa o pang-amoy, hirap sa paghinga, rashes May exposure sa taong confirmed o suspect na kaso ng COVID-19 sa nakaraang 14 na araw Dating ginamot para sa COVID-19 sa nakaraang 90 na araw Ginamot o nakakuha ng convalescent plasma o monoclonal antibodies para sa COVID-19 nitong nakaraang 90 na araw
Mga buntis na nasa unang 3 buwan ng pagbubuntis Nakakuha ng kahit na anong klaseng bakuna sa nakaraang 14 na araw KAILANGAN NG MEDICAL CLEARANCE MULA SA DOKTOR KUNG: May autoimmune disease Na-diagnose na may Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Na-diagnose na may kanser Sumailalim sa organ transplant Kasalukuyang umiinom ng steroids2 Nakaratay na lang sa kama o may sakit na hindi tataas sa 6 na buwan ang taning OO, SUBALIT KAILANGAN NG KARAGDAGANG PAG-IINGAT KUNG: May sakit kaugnay ng pagdudugo o kasalukuyang umiinom ng anticoagulants May history ng anaphylaxis o malubhang allergy May allergy sa pagkain, itlog, o gamot May hika
March 29-April 4, 2021
The Mindanao Examiner
Sulu Pictures in the News
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The Mindanao Examiner
March 29-April 4, 2021
Across : 1. Mongrel 5. Golf prop 8. Burn 12. Between ports 13. Dashed 14. French female 15. Helsinki native 16. Regarded highly 18. Country hotels 19. Insignificant 20. Ripen 21. Acceptance of others 26. scanty 28. Face covering 29. ___ pointer 31. Regional 32. Imitator 33. Climb 36. Too early 38. ___ Baba 41. Absent 42. Beam 43. Large boa 47. Wedding band 48. Extinct bird 49. Take food 50. Unfasten 51. Hard candy 52. Poor grade 53. whip
CEBU CITY G/F Dreamfield bldg, Sanciangko Street, Kamagayan (0923) 1670009
Rodil P. Ybañez
DAVAO CITY Door 2, 402 Nidea Street, Barrio Obrero, Davao City, Philippines (082) 2841859 / (0932) 4323301 / (0997) 3172021
Marilou Cablinda
NORTH COTABATO KIDAPAWAN CITY CENTRAL MINDANAO COTABATO CITY Rhoderick Beñez (0927) 4757936 Answer to last week’s crossword:
Down :
PAGADIAN CITY
Kismet Cable TV, Aquino cor. Cabrera st., Gatas District, Pagadian City, Zamboanga Del Sur (0910) 7348600
Richard Suarez
1. “The Godfather” organization 2. Employing 3. Memphis’ state 4. Browns in the sun 5. Quake 6. Artists’ stands 7. Main course 8. Watch 9. Stately tree 10. Tavern order 11. Maroon 17. Always, in poems 21. Road material 22. Stratford-upon-___ 23. Peach variety 24. Undercover gp. 25. Building addition
27. Salon treatment 29. Drink like a dog 30. Fourth mo. 31. Director Spike ___ 33. Repented 34. Ice-cream dish 35. Invent 37. In the past 39. Singer ___ Ronstadt 40. Metal bar 42. Chow 43. Tack on 44. Neither’s companion 45. Commotion 46. Law officer
Weekly Sudoku:
ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA BASILAN, SULU, TAWIͳTAWI ΈBARMMΉ 3/F, JLC Building, Don Alfaro Street, Tetuan Zamboanga City (062) 9555360 / 0915-3976197
Maritess Fernandez The Mindanao Examiner The Zamboanga Post
Newspaper, Film and Television Productions Maritess Fernandez Publisher/Executive Producer Al Jacinto Editor-in-Chief / Producer
Answer to last week:
Reynold Toribio Graphics / Video Editor
Mindanao Examiner Productions Web Master REGIONAL PARTNERS Mindanao Daily / Business Week / Mindanao Star ADVERTISING Rhoderick Beñez (0927) 4757936 Central Mindanao/ Kidapawan City/Cotabato City North Cotabato Eduardo A. Sode (0917) 3087366 044 Mabini St. Cebu City Rodil P. Ybañez (0923) 1670009 Ground flr, Dreamfield Bldg, Sanciangko St., Kamagayan Cebu City
Marilou Cablinda (0997) 3172021 Davao Region/ Eastern Mindanao Jeng Fernandez (0917) 7930652 Zamboanga Peninsula
Richard Suarez (0910) 7348600 Kismet Cable TV, Aquino cor. Cabrera sts., Gatas District, Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur
The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper is published weekly in Mindanao, Philippines. ZAMBOANGA CITY OFFICE: 3/F, JLC Building, Don Alfaro Street, Tetuan Phone & Fax: (062) 9555360 Mobile: (0915) 3976197 DAVAO CITY OFFICE: Door 2, 402 Nidea Street, Barrio Obrero Phone: (082) 2841859 Mobile: (0925) 7621914 URL: mindanaoexaminer.com E-mail: mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com
Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper is published weekly in Mindanao, Philippines ZAMBOANGA CITY OFFICE: 3/F JLC Building, Don Alfaro Street, Tetuan Phone & fax: (062) 9555360 Mobile: (0915) 3976197
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The Mindanao Examiner
March 29-April 4, 2021
Researchers look into genetic origins of Filipinos A LANDMARK study has revealed the complex shared origins, inter-relatedness, and genetic diversity of the Filipino people. Taking advantage of the latest advances in genomics and computational biology, a team of researchers investigated into the Filipino’s DNA, and looked into 2.3 million molecular DNA markers that were known to differ between various populations. The markers from more than 1,000 individuals representing 115 Philippine cultural communities were comprehensively analyzed. “This finally gives us a clearer picture of who we are as Filipinos, where we came from, and our sense of relatedness.” said Carlo Ebeo, Board of Trustee member of the National Museum in-
volved in the study. It was revealed that, through time, the Philippines was inhabited by at least 5 major waves of human migration - starting with Northern and Southern Negritos as the first Filipinos, then followed by Manobo, Sama, and Cordilleran-related populations. The latter three major waves happened around 15 to 7 thousand years ago, coinciding with the major geographic changes in the region that was brought about by climate change. These include the inundation of the Sunda landmass as well as the loss land bridge between Taiwan and southern China. It was previously thought that the search for new arable lands by expanding farmer populations was
the main reason for driving population migrations, such as the dispersal Austronesian-speaking groups into the Philippines. However, Dr Maximilian Larena, a Filipino scientist based in Sweden who co-led the study, challenges this view and said: “Our findings suggest that instead of farming, climate change may have played a more important role in driving the mass movement of populations in various directions.” The significant geographic changes may have prompted the migration of Manobo and Sama-related ancestral groups from Borneo into southern Philippines and Cordilleran-related ancestral groups from southern China-Taiwan area into the various islands of the
Environmental group urges a stop in sale of leaded spray paints KIDAPAWAN CITY – The EcoWaste Coalition has appealed to dealers of aerosol or spray paints in Mindanao not to sell products containing high levels of lead. The environmental group revealed that three of the 13 spray paints that it had found to contain dangerously high concentrations of lead, a chemical banned in the manufacture of paints, were procured from an online dealer who shipped the items from Davao City. It had had earlier announced its discovery of more non-compliant paints with lead content ranging from 4,500 to 56,100 ppm, which are way above the total lead content limit of 90 ppm under the Chemical Control Order for Lead and Lead Compounds. “We appeal to online and offline sellers of lead-containing spray paints to discontinue the unlawful sale of such products that goes against the government’s policy of eliminating lead paints. We likewise appeal to online shopping sites
to take down the ads for these non-compliant paints to protect consumers from ordering items that can later pose a risk of lead exposure,” said Thony Dizon, Chemical Safety Campaigner of the EcoWaste Coalition. Environmental health scientist Dr. Geminn Louis Apostol also explained that lead paint chips and dust are formed when a surface covered with lead paint ages, peels and breaks. He warned that children are exposed to lead when they eat such paint chips or swallow or breathe in lead dust, which can affect their developing brains and cause reduced intelligence, learning ability and attention span, as well as increased risk of behavioral problems such as aggressiveness, bullying and violence, “Health experts have not determined any level of lead exposure that is deemed safe and without detrimental effects,” said Apostol, who is also an Assistant Professor at the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health.
Recognizing that lead paint is a major source of childhood lead exposure, and that such exposure causes serious harm to children and other vulnerable groups like women of child-bearing age and workers, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued in 2013 a groundbreaking policy eliminating lead-containing paints. With active support from the EcoWaste Coalition and the Philippine Association of Paint Manufacturers (PAPM), the DENR promulgated A.O. 2013-24 phasing out lead-containing decorative paints in 2016 and lead-containing industrial paints in 2019. The EcoWaste Coalition had so far discovered 50 leaded aerosol paints being sold by online and offline retailers in violation of the country’s lead paint regulation. None of the non-compliant spray paints found by the group was produced by companies belonging to the PAPM. (Rhoderick Benez contributed to this report.)
Vietnamese poachers captured off Tawi-Tawi TAWI-TAWI – The Philippine military said it captured a Vietnamese fishing boat poaching off Tawi-Tawi province in the South. Army Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan, Jr., chief of the Western Mindanao Command, said the fishing vessel was manned by 7 crew members when patrolling security forces spotted the boat on March 23 and impounded the vessel the next day. “The Vietnamese vessel was caught while fishing illegally in the Philippine territory,” he said. Vinluan identified the
skipper as Hunya Van Day and crew members Cao Van Mih, Lam Tang Hung, Huyuh Tuan Anh, Huyuh Van Cuong, Nguyen Ngoc Hoa, and Vo Van Taun. “They were all subsequently brought to Turtle Island Municipal Police Station for documentation,” he said, adding, the Vietnamese boat had no pertinent papers or documents allowing them to fish in the Philippines. Vinluan said the boat is now impounded and all its crew are in the custody of the police in the Tawi-Tawi capital town of Bongao.
“The Philippine Navy and Philippine Marines intensify the conduct of maritime patrol to thwart illegal fishing activities in the Philippine waters and protect the intruders from becoming victims of abduction and other sea crimes,” Vinluan said, referring to the spate of Abu Sayyaf ransom kidnappings in the area near the Sabah border over the past years. Just recently, security forces killed 5 Abu Sayyaf terrorists and rescued four Indonesian fishermen kidnapped off Sabah last year. (Mindanao Examiner)
Philippines. The arrival of Manobo, Sama, and Cordilleran-related groups resulted in interbreeding with resident Negritos. Interestingly, some Cordillerans remained to be the only ethnic group in the Philippines who did not show evidence of historical interbreeding with Negritos; and consequently are the only population in the world who remained to be the unadmixed descendants of Basal East Asians. According to Dr. Adrian Albano, a Kalanguya Cordilleran from Ifugao State University and co-author of the study: “This affirms that Cordillerans were isolated for quite some time, which is evident on the retention of distinct indigenous cultural practices and presence of immense linguistic diversity in the region.” Additional minor genetic signal were also detected in some Filipino ethnic groups, including Papuan, South Asian, and European genetic ancestry. The Papuan-related ancestry is found among the coastal ethnic groups of southeastern Philippines. This likely reflects a westward migration or gene flow of Papuan-related ancestry from Papua New Guinea or the Bismarck’s archipelago
into eastern Indonesia and subsequently into southeastern Philippines. The South Asian or Indian-related genetic signal was detected among the Sama Dilaut and other coastal Sama ethnic groups of southwestern Philippines. The signal was dated to 500 to 1000 years ago, coinciding with the time when there was increased maritime trading activity between Island Southeast Asia and India. The European genetic signal was only detected in 1% of all individuals investigated, indicating a limited genetic legacy of the Spanish Colonial Period. The study was made possible through the partnership between Uppsala University of Sweden led by Prof Mattias Jakobsson and Dr. Maximilian Larena, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts of the Philippines through the office of then NCCA chairperson Felipe Mendoza de Leon. “This is a groundbreaking study that the commission heartily endorsed, and we should be thankful for this collaboration as it sheds some light on the longstanding question of our origins. It will certainly revise our understanding and appreciate that the story of the peopling of the Philippines from
three waves of migration as proposed by Otley Beyer is not supported by archeological, genetic, or historical evidence,” says Prof Felipe Mendoza de Leon. Aside from the extensive network of cultural workers provided by the NCCA, the scientific endeavor was also implemented in collaboration with indigenous cultural communities, local universities, local government units, non-governmental organizations, and or regional offices of the National Commission for Indigenous Peoples. More importantly, the study is one of its kind in terms of the active involvement of the Indigenous Peoples, who some of them are also involved as co-authors, in recognition of their valuable contribution, indigenous knowledge, ownership and shared responsibility of the work. “We are proud to be part of this historical research. It revealed how interconnected we are to each other after all, and that we share a common ancestry. Recognizing this fact will hopefully carry a message of unity and peace among various ethnic groups, regardless of beliefs,” said Waway Saway of the Talaandig ethnic group of Bukidnon who is involved in the study.
Organic Kopi Luwak or Civet coffee isn’t really pricey KIDAPAWAN CITY Coffee lovers in the Philippines may now enjoy the best and the most expensive coffee in the world - Kopi Luwak - but not as pricey as every connoisseurs think. Kopi Luwak is a coffee that consists of partially digested coffee cherries, which have been eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet. The cherries are fermented as they pass through a civet’s intestines, and after being defecated with other fecal matter, they are collected. In Manila, a kilogram of Civet coffee sells for as high as P15,000 and over $500 dollars abroad. But Kopi Luwak can now be enjoyed by every coffee lovers for as low as P150 for a 16 oz. cup that comes with a drip bag, ground organic Civet coffee beans, two packets of brown sugar and a stirrer in a beautiful Kraft paper bag – thanks to the Mindanao Civet Coffee seller in Zamboanga City. The new market player in the coffee business, although small, is now offering affordable organic Kopi Luwak – sourced and picked by farmers from the highlands of Mindanao, cleaned and dried and roasted to perfection to
give coffee lovers that distinct aroma of Civet coffee berries – chocolaty and nutty and smooth bodied brewed drink. Mindanao Civet Coffee, which started as a home reseller of coffee beans, now offers organic Kopi Luwak in 250 grams ground Civet coffee and 250 grams Civet coffee beans – all medium roasted to perfection. Kopi Luwak is also available now in 3rd Cup Café at LM Metro Hotel in Zamboanga City, and
resellers in Luzon, Cebu and other parts of Mindanao. The Mindanao Civet Coffee is a favorite among travellers and tourists and coffee connoisseurs. And for those who wanted the perfect gift for all occasions, Kopi Luwak is the best choice. And those who are interested to resell or perhaps enjoy a daily hot cup or cold brew of Kopi Luwak may call the Mindanao Civet Coffee at this mobile number 09153976197. (AJC)
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The Mindanao Examiner
March 29-April 4, 2021
March 29-April 4, 2021
The Mindanao Examiner
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DOH wants RT-PCR testing for air travellers
C
EBU CITY – The Department of Health in Central Visayas said it is now pushing for the revival of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for the travellers arriving at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport. Dr. Mary Jean Loreche, no travellers arriving here from issued within 7 days before the DOH-7 chief pathologist and NCR” which in a “way might not travel date and proof of booking Covid-19 regional spokesper- add to our cases”. at a hotel or resort accredited son, said swab testing will help Loreche said the DOH-7 by the Cebu Provincial Tourism health authorities in identify- has been conducting a series Task Force. They must also pass ing travellers who may have of consultative meetings with through symptoms checking at been infected and have the risk Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia to the point of departure and point of passing on the coronavirus convince the provincial leader- of arrival. to the locals. ship to revive the “no testing, no Garcia said visitors who With the National Capital entry” policy in the airport and wish to visit Cebu and stay in Region (NCR) imposing “bub- the setting up again of Covid-19 resorts and hotels will only need ble” measures to selected ar- help desks in the arrival area. to show their pre-booked resereas with high Covid-19 cases, She also urged local gov- vations, while those who want to Loreche said it is the best time ernment officials to ramp up experience the different tourism to test arriving passengers. their preparations for the up- activities will have to register The NCR Plus bubble places coming inoculation of the se- ahead at the Capitol’s booking Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, nior citizens and vulnerable portal. Laguna and Rizal under strict sectors, adding, they should This was the agreement community quarantine for two also strengthen the campaign of reached by the Cebu Provincial weeks from March 22 to April 4 guarding the vulnerable sectors, Tourism Task Force in a meeting to address the Covid-19 surge. such as the elderly and sick in called by Garcia. In the meeting, In this setup, a bubble the household, by ensuring that the members were unanimous applies to a cluster of people “active members” of the family in their observation of the need restricted from going in and who have been going out must to revive Cebu’s economy as out of a covered area. They can be assured they are not carriers more and more people are sufonly move out if they can se- of coronavirus. fering from joblessness. cure authority. “Those who are (at) high “A lot of our constituents “With the no testing pol- risk must wear at all times their already are suffering, many have icy, the slowing of travellers face mask even at your home. lost their jobs, many have been from the bubble areas can This is to prevent transmission wanting to find some living. mean we won’t be receiving in- within the household,” Loreche Because of these constraints dividuals who may be harbor- said. (community restrictions) lisud ing the virus but we can’t know In February, Garcia signed gyud kaayo, especially those in for sure as they aren’t tested,” Executive Order (EO) 12 which the tourism industry,” DepartLoreche told the Philippine no longer require RT-PCR test ment of the Interior and Local News Agency. for visitors from other provinces. Government Provincial Director She, however, said the All the tourists need to prepare Jhoaden Lucero observed, addbubble would mean “there are are a valid medical certificate ing, the opening of tourism will
Health workers, uban pa gibakunahan na! ANG SENIOR High School Department sa University of Cebu sa Barangay Banilad maoy usa sa duha ka mga vaccination sites sa Cebu City kun diin gipahigayon ang tulo ka adlaw nga pagpamakuna sa mga sakop
ARMM
sa Cebu City Health Department, Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), contact tracers sa Cebu City Emergency Operations Center ug mga private clinics dinhi sa dakbayan sa Sugbo. Ang usa naa mahimu-
tang sa Robinsons Galleria. Adunay mga steps nga gisunod aron nga hapsay ang pagpahigayon sa pagbakuna. Naka-andam sab ang mga personnel sa Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office in case kun adunay mga emergency o komplikasyon nga mahitabo sa mga gipabakunahan. Atol sa pagpamakuna, aduna sab mga personnel nga gibutang aron magbantay nga masiguro nga nasunod ang gihapon ang minimum health protocols. Gibakunahan na ang mga BHWs ug uban pang mga medical frontliners gikan sa mga private clinics sugod Marso 24. (Cebu Examiner, CCPIO)
Eastern Mindanao
be “a step to moving forward”. Officials also emphasized that the Province is the main hub of tourism, education, information technology, and a major economic player in the region. Provincial Tourism Officer Marti Ybañez said while tourism traffic increased during the holiday season, it dropped again this year. “Opening up our borders will really help our indus-
try,” Ybañez told the Garcia. Cebu was the first province to open its tourism industry as early as the end of July last year to revive the economy that is badly beaten by the Covid-19 pandemic. Garcia has been in the forefront in this battle while rallying all local leaders, public and private, and national government agencies to push the economy forward. Major economic programs
have already been rolled out since last year including the Sugbo Negosyo grassroots livelihood activity which supports Cebu’s homegrown products and entrepreneurs. Agriculture was also given a boost through its Sugbusog program or the backyard vegetable gardening which is spurring economy activity in the grassroots. (By John Rey Saavedra, Vanessa L. Almeda and Cebu Examiner.)
Salamat kaayo! GIPASALAMATAN NI Cebu City Mayor Edgar Labella ang mga ginsakpan sa Emergency Operation Center (EOC) nga gipanguluhan ni Konsehal Joel Garganera tungod sa ilang paningkamot sa pagtubag sa problema sa pandemic ug sa padayong pagkunhod sa kaso sa Covid-19 sa Cebu City. Sa pagka-karon, wala na malakip ang Cebu City sa top 10 nga mga local government units nga dunay daghang kaso sa nag-positibo sa Covid-19. Lakip sa mitambong sa tigom sa EOC si Konsehal Phillip Zafra. Nakita ni Labella nga sa miaging buwan nga misaka ang kaso sa nagpositibo sa Covid-19, naningkamot ang mga kadagkuan sa EOC nga mangita og pamaagi nga mokunhod dayon kini hilabi na nga daghang establisemento na ang nag-abli ug nagkadaghan na sab ang nag-gawas sa ilang panimalay. Basi sa datos sa EOC, sagad sa nataptan gikan nagumpra sa mga dagkong grocery store.
Western Mindanao
Mayor Edgardo Labella. Gikalipay usab ni Labella nga sa miaging tuig, naguna ang Barangay Luz ug Mamabaling sa dunay labing taas nga kaso sa nagpositibo sa Covid-19, apan karon, nagpadayon ang pagkunhod
Cebu
sa kaso niining maong mga lugar. Gipasalig ng Mayor nga sa dili madugay, mangabot na ang dugang bakuna batok Covid-19 sa Cebu City. (Cebu Examiner, CCPIO)
Manila