President Rodrigo Duterte is likely to sign the executive order (EO) on contractualization before Labor Day. (Photo Courtesy: RTVM)

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque announced on Monday that President Rodrigo Duterte is likely to sign the executive order (EO) on contractualization before Labor Day or May 1 as this remains a priority of the Duterte administration.

“The president wants it as soon as possible. We all know that Labor Day is May 1 so I would think that it will come out on or before May 1,” Roque said.

However, Malacañang couldn’t confirm whether or not the President met with the labor groups today which was also reportedly canceled. — UNTV News & Rescue

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Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement that it will become a problem because what he calls as Facebook’s “police of the truth” are “sometimes partisan.”

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang wants to meet with Facebook over its choice of fact checkers specifically for Filipino accounts on the social media platform.

Facebook has named controversial social news network, Rappler and another news outlet, Vera Files, as third-party fact-checkers in a campaign to curb the proliferation of fake news on Facebook accounts of Filipino users.

In a statement posted on the website of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy said, “efforts are underway for both the PCOO and Facebook to sit across the table and discuss and hopefully, reach agreements” to get a “shared goal of responsible and intelligent use of social media.”

Last week, a number of Duterte supporters complained after Facebook blocked their accounts.

Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said it will become a problem because what he calls as Facebook’s “police of the truth” are “sometimes partisan.”

“I commiserate with those who object with the selection of Rappler and Vera files because we know where they stand in the political spectrum,” he said.

Roque is encouraging all supporters of the administration to use the platform itself to actively voice out their protests against Facebook’s choice of fact checkers.

“The users of Facebook should make known their wishes to Facebook itself that there should be a more partial arbiter of the truth,” Roque concluded. — Marje Navarro –Pelayo | UNTV News & Rescue

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FILE PHOTO: A temporary foreign worker sorts mushrooms at the Highline Mushrooms farm. REUTERS

The Philippine Embassy in Canada has refuted reports of a Canadian mushroom farm looking to hire mushroom pickers and offering CAD 3,000 as salary.

“Sa ngayon po, ayon sa POEA, hindi nag-re-recruit ang POEA ng mushroom picker o anumang trabaho sa Canada. Wala pong accredited recruitment agency at POEA-approved job contract or agency or employer dito sa Canada sa ngayon. Hindi rin po sakop ng exceptions ng batas ang direct hiring papuntang Canada,” Philippine Ambassador to Canada Petronilo Garica explained.

(POEA is not recruiting mushroom pickers or for any job positions in Canada at the moment. There is currently no accredited recruitment agency and POEA-approved job contract or agency or employer in Canada. Direct hiring to Canada is not covered by exemptions of the law. )

Reports of a job opening for mushroom pickers in Canada caused a buzz recently as the alleged employment promised more than P150,000 pesos monthly salary and an opportunity for permanent residency.

Migrant workers’ group Migrante Canada explained that the real working condition of foreign workers in the country is not as “pleasurable” as everybody seems to think.

“Underpaid, working long hours. Sa mga lumapit sa amin…ang kwento sa amin ng mga kababayan natin, minsan 12 to 16 hours tapos one day lang yung day-off nila. So talagang over worked yung mga kababayan natin,” said Bayani Edades, a solidarity officer of Migrante Canada.

(Underpaid, working long hours. Those who come to us talk of 12 to 16 hours of work with only one day off. They really are overworked.)

Edades added that the Canadian government offers permanent residency only to highly skilled workers and to those who are enrolled in temporary training programs.

Only caregivers for elderly and children are the ones eligible for permanent residency with the chance of being approved for citizenship.

Maria Sol Pajadura, chairperson of Migrante Canada, explained that time and again they have encountered migrants being lured by illegal recruiters and provided with fake documents.

“Pina-process namin sa CIC iyong work permit. Pero at the end, malalaman na ng worker na wala na silang status dito sa Canada. That’s why we cannot divulge their names dahil undocumented na sila,” Pajadura said.

(We process their work permits at CIC. But at the end, the worker would find out that they have no status in Canada. That’s why we cannot divulge their names because they are now undocumented.)

Meanwhile, in an email sent to UNTV by Ryan Koeslag, the Executive Vice President of Canadian Mushroom Growers, clarified that those who want to work in Canada, whichever sector it may be, should strictly follow the legal mechanism imposed by the Canadian government on foreign workers.

For its part, the Philippine Embassy, as always, vowed to extend all the necessary assistance to Filipino workers in Canada who in turn are victims of illegal recruiters. — UNTV News & Rescue

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Giacomo Filibeck Twitter profile

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang insisted on the government’s right to bar Giacomo Filibeck from entering the Philippines.

Filibeck, a secretary-general of European socialists is a critic of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

The EU political party official was invited by the Akbayan Party-list Congress, but was denied access to the country upon his arrival at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

“We are not obliged to allow anyone into our territory if we do not want them in our territory. Unfortunately, the socialist leader was one of those that we determine as a person that we don’t want to be in our territory. There is no rule under international law that will compel us to admit anyone whom we do not want to admit in our territory. That’s the exercise of sovereignty,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing. — UNTV News & Rescue

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FILE PHOTO: Senator Ralph Recto

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto called on the government to live stream the Boracay environmental clean-up drive and the Marawi rehabilitation efforts.

He said the proposal is to promote transparency in these two big-budget government projects ensuring that the budget, time and the specifications are followed.

Under the Project DIME, or Digital Imaging for Monitoring and Evaluation, drones, satellites and other technologies will monitor the development of these projects. — UNTV News & Rescue

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FILE PHOTO: Former Department of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre

MANILA, Philippines — Former Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre has denied allegations that he had ordered the shredding of some documents at the justice department days before leaving his post.

In a statement, Aguirre described the reports as “malicious” as he had no hand in the shredding of any document.

He added that if there were indeed documents that were shredded, it was just routine disposal of unnecessary documents. — UNTV News & Rescue

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FILE PHOTO: The low-priced regular milled rice from the Nueva Ecija Rice Millers Association

MANILA, Philippines — After rice traders from Luzon kept their promise to provide cheaper rice supply in the markets of Metro Manila, the National Food Authority (NFA) will meet next with rice millers and traders of Visayas and Mindanao.

This is to discuss the possibility of implementing the same program in the regions.

However, according to Grain Retailers Confederation of the Philippines (Grecon), they will study  first the feasibility of its implementation since there are areas in Visayas and Mindanao where the prices of rice are already lower.

Moreover, the traders always consider the high-buying price of rice in an area before sending supplies.

For now, the group is focusing on Luzon just as they promised President Rodrigo Duterte.

According to Grecon, they expect that on Thursday, April 19, commercial rice priced at P39 per kilo will be distributed to markets in Metro Manila.

The rice stocks will come from Isabela, Nueva Ecija, and Bulacan.

The group of millers clarified that the rice they deliver are newly-milled and if there are cheaper variants being sold in the market, those did not come from them.

“Mga lumang bigas yun ng mga traders ng ibang mga nagtitinda. Yung ibinibigay namin yung talagang pang serbisyo doon para sa commitment namin kay president,” Grecon national president Jaime Magbanua said.

(Those are old rice supplies from traders of other retailers. What we are offering is for public service, in keeping with our commitment to the president.)

Meanwhile, according to Magbanua, President Duterte has returned the National Food Authority (NFA), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and the Philippine Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority under the supervision of the agriculture department.

Malacañang has confirmed the revamp.

According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, this was discussed by the NFA Council with the president last night.

The NFA said they are ready to cooperate with whichever department they will be under.

“Wala namang problema sa amin kung saan kami under. Ang importante maayos natin itong ating issue na kakulangan sa buffer stock ng NFA,” said NFA spokesperson Rex Estoperez.

(It’s not an issue with us what department we’ll be under. What’s important is addressing the deficiency in NFA’s buffer stock.)  — Rey Pelayo | UNTV News & Rescue

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FILE PHOTO: PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa in SAF uniform

MANILA, Philippines — Police Director General Ronald Dela Rosa has assured that members of PNP Special Action Force who fought the war in Marawi City will soon receive their allowances.

Dela Rosa was upset when he learned that the allowances of the so-called “Marawi Heroes” have been delayed for two years.

Former SAF Director Benjamin Lusad and some other SAF officials are now facing charges at the Office of the Ombudsman for extortion in line with the issue.

Dela Rosa expressed dismay over his men knowing their capabilities as police officials. He added that he has already talked to the officers involved, though he refused to divulge what transpired between them.

“Hindi ako satisfied sa explanation niya. Sabi ko nga kailangang harapin nila iyan. Andyan na ang kaso. Kinasuhan sila sa Ombudsman, harapin nila iyan,” the outgoing chief of police said.

(I am not satisfied with his explanation. I told them to face the charges. The case has been filed at the Ombudsman, they should face it.)

General Bato said he is leaving it up to his successor, incoming PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde, to investigate the case while the Ombudsman is doing its own probe on the criminal and administrative cases filed against the officers.

“Imbestigahan niya para alam ng PNP (He should investigate it so the PNP would be aware.) For internal consumption kailangan gawin din ng PNP (the PNP has to do it too),” Bato said.

A SAF trooper receives a daily allowance of P30 or P900 a month. The overall amount of delayed allowances has reached P59.8 million for a period of two years.

Dela Rosa assured that the PNP’s budget and fiscal officers are now working for the immediate release of the delayed allowances. — Lea Ylagan | UNTV News & Rescue

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FILE PHOTOS: Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo; former DOJ Leila De Lima (PCOO / UNTV News)

MANILA, Philippines —The Supreme Court (SC) has granted the petition of former President Gloria Arroyo to nullify the watchlist order issued against her by former Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary and now Sen. Leila de Lima.

With this order, authorities prevented Arroyo from leaving the country in 2011.

But the high court ruled out the department circular used by De Lima as the basis of the watchlist order as unconstitutional, as it violates the right to travel under the 1987 Constitution.

“The court, voting unanimously, declared DOJ Department Circular No. 41 as unconstitutional for being violative of the right to travel under Article III, Section 6 of the 1987 Constitution; As a consequence, all issuances released pursuant to said DOJ department circular are null and void,” SC Spokesperson Atty. Theodore Te said.

The court explained that DOJ’s Department Circular No. 41 issued in 2010 by then acting Sec. Alberto Agra has no legal basis.

The circular empowers the secretary of justice to issue watchlist orders.

The court said Congress needs to pass a legislation giving such authority to the justice chief as provided under the Constitution.

But in the absence of such law, it is illegal for DOJ to stop anybody from leaving the country.

“The court, in interpreting Article III, Section 6, determined that there was no legal basis for Department Circular No. 41 because of the absence of a law authorizing the secretary of justice to issue hold departure orders, watchlist orders, or allow departure orders,” said the spokesperson.

Justice Andres Reyes Jr. wrote the unanimous decision and only Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa took no part in deciding the case. — Roderic Mendoza | UNTV News & Rescue

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FILE PHOTO: Former PNP-SAF Chief Benjamin Lusad

MANILA, Philippines — Former Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF) chief and police director for Integrated Police Operations – Southern Luzon Benjamin Lusad has been sacked for plunder charges.

This is after the Office of the Ombudsman filed graft complaints against the police officer.

The case was due to his failure to release funds of SAF daily subsistence allowance in 2016 and 2017.

“There are two officers involved and two non-commissioned officers. Yung nasa SAF na dalawang natitirang non-commissioned officers had already been relieved,” PNP PIO chief PCSupt. John Bulalacao.

(There are two officers and two non-commissioned officers involved. The two SAF non-commissioned officers have already been relieved from their posts.)

According to Bulalacao, SAF budget and fiscal officer SSupt. Andre Dizon and his staff, SPO2 Maila Salazar Bustamante and SPO1 James Rica, have also been dismissed from their positions.

The spokesman said this is to give way to the Ombudsman’s investigation.

Outgoing PNP chief has previously stated that he was not convinced by Lusad’s explanation on the issue.

“Sabi ko ng kailangang harapin nila yan. Andyan na ang kaso. Kinasuhan sila sa ombudsman. Harapin nila yan,” Dela Rosa said.

(I said they need to face it. There’s already a case. The ombudsman filed charges against them. Face the charges.)

Currently, the PNP comptroller is conducting investigation and audit over the unreleased allowances.

“Tama na ang dapat managot at may kinalaman, basta’t lumabas lang ang katotohanan.  Therefore the PNP will closely coordinate with the ombudsman,” the PNP spokesperson said.

(Enough already with the finger-pointing, as long as the truth comes out. The PNP, therefore, will closely coordinate with the ombudsman.)

The subsistence allowance is worth P30 a day or P900 per month.  An estimated P59.8-million worth of allowance has been delayed for two years. — Lea Ylagan | UNTV News & Rescue

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Outgoing PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa

Outgoing Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief PDG Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said he is ready to face any charges filed against him relative to the government’s war on drugs. He added that he is even prepared to accompany President Rodrigo Duterte with any charges the two of them might face.

“Handa ako (I am ready). As I’ve said, I may sink or swim with my president, hindi ko siya iiwan (I will not desert him),” Bato said.

Dela Rosa noted that he does not regret any decisions he had made during his two-year term as the PNP Chief. Also, he considers the administration’s anti-illegal drugs campaign a success under his command since it regained the public’s trust in the police.

“Itutuloy talaga natin iyan dahil iyan ang ating sinimulan na (We will continue it because we have started it). It doesn’t end. Iyan ang main focus ng Duterte administration so tuloy-tuloy iyan (That is the main focus of the Duterte administration so it will go on),” he said.

Meanwhile, General Dela Rosa also wants to study the Philippine penal system before taking office at the Bureau of Corrections (BUCOR) chief.

General Bato believes that once the problems in the country’s correctional system are addressed, it will result in resolving the problems on illegal drugs inside the country’s penitentiaries. — Lea Ylagan | UNTV News & Rescue

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Various unit of responders ready to react at the scene where a chemical leaked in Barangay Sasa, Davao City . Photo Courtesy: Task Force Davao / Annette Maligad

The Davao City police have launched a massive manhunt operation to capture the person behind a chemical gas leak in Sto. Niño Riverside, Barangay Sasa in Davao City.

Fifteen bottles filled with agricultural chemical were found buried in a shallow pit inside a private compound in the area. The chemical fumes caused at least 42 individuals, including children, to fall ill.

The Davao City police is now tracking the whereabouts of the suspect identified as Regil Daya a.k.a Duco.

The seized chemicals were brought to the local environmental bureau for proper disposal. — UNTV News & Rescue

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MIAA General Manager Eddie Monreal assures investigation of the alleged robbery done to an OFW

MANILA, Philippines — An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) was allegedly robbed of valuable items from her luggage when she arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Office (NAIA) Terminal 3 last Saturday.

Laptop, perfumes, and chocolates were missing from her airline luggage.

Based on the complaint, the OFW came from Hong Kong on board the Cebu Cathay Pacific Flight 5J113.

When she arrived at the terminal, she immediately discovered that her valuable items were lost out of her bag.

She promptly informed the airline company of the incident.

In the released statement from Cebu Pacific, they are now coordinating with the ground handlers of Hongkong International Airport to detect where the baggage items were lost.

In the initial investigation of Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), the weight of the baggage of the complaining passenger is still the same when she checked in and checked out in the airport.

Currently, MIAA still probes where exactly the items started to get out of track and who is the perpetrator of the crime. — Mai Bermudez | UNTV News & Rescue

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The controversial photo of Vice President Leni Robredo with some Liberal Party members in the Holocaust Memorial in Germany

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo has come under fire after a controversial photo of her with some Liberal Party members in the Holocaust Memorial in Germany circulated on social media.

With her in the photograph were some party mates including LP president Senator Francis Pangilinan, Quezon City Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte, Marikina Rep. Miro Quimbo, Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao and former budget secretary Florencio Abad.

In an ambush interview Tuesday in Pasay City, VP Robredo apologized for the photo and accepted critics’ point over the matter though she said there was no malice behind it.

“There was no excuse. There was no excuse. While there was no malice in it, I take full responsibility so I would like to apologize for whatever offense, sensitivities to people it caused,” the Vice President said.

The Holocaust Memorial was built in 2004 to honor the lives of millions of victims of the Nazi regime. Netizens vent out their dismay on social media seeing the Vice President and her group used as a photo-op.

Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr., who first posted the picture in a tweet, also expressed his apology.

He explained in a series of tweets that they “fully understand the plight experienced by Jews under the Nazis…the same way that we condemn injustice anywhere in the world.”

However, he added that though they “are appreciative of the countless advocates of human rights for sharing their thoughts,” he hopes that the public can also muster the same “outrage over the EJKs” in the country, alluding to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug war.

VP Robredo’s group was in Berlin, Germany last week for a study tour for poverty alleviation. The study tour was fully funded by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF)-Philippines. — Mai Bermudez | UNTV News & Rescue

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FILE PHOTO: The World Health Organization (WHO) logo is pictured at the entrance of its headquarters in Geneva, January 25, 2015.
CREDIT: REUTERS/PIERRE ALBOUY

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Philippine Embassy have launched a program that aims to promote breast cancer awareness among Filipino workers in East Timor.

Ambassador Abdulmaid Muin said the program would help educate Filipinos in East Timor on the ways to prevent getting the said disease and how to help those who are suffering from it.

“Reminders to females here to be careful of breast cancer. Believe what the doctors say. Be concerned of this dreaded disease,” said the ambassador.

“When you feel that there is any abnormality, you have to go and seek for medical checkup so that we can detect early stage of cancer,” WHO specialist gynecologist and obstetrician – Timor-Leste country office Dr. Amitha Thapa said.

Filipinos who attended the event have expressed support for the said program, and noted that it provided them with valuable insight into the deadly disease . — UNTV News & Rescue

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PDEA Director Derrick Arnold Carreon

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has confirmed that over 500 barangay officials are included in the government’s drug watch list.

However, the agency is not in favor of disclosing the list to the public contrary to the call of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

DILG’s proposal to publicize the government’s drug watch list aims to guide the voters in line with the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on May 14.

Still, Director Derrick Arnold Carreon said PDEA acknowledges that it is not part of the police unit’s duty to release the drug watch list.

He added that it will only affect their investigation on local officials who have links in illegal drug trade and may possibly hint drug personalities to escape.

“If you’re going to release names of suspects prematurely, it will be inimical to the cause of law enforcement. Hindi po trabaho ng law enforcement na maglabas ng pangalan (It is not the job of law enforcement to release names). Ang trabaho po namin ay magkalap ng ebidensya upang sa gayon ay mahuli po namin sila (Our job is to gather evidence for their arrest),” Carreon explained.

Instead of releasing the names of those involved in illegal drugs, PDEA reminds voters not to vote for local officials who they believe are involved in illegal drugs.

The agency also encourages election candidates to voluntarily undergo drug testing to prove that they are drug free.

“Tuwing eleksyon po hawak ng ating mga botante sa kanilang kamay ang kapangyarihan para hindi mailuklok ang kahit sinomang kandidato na may kinalaman sa iligal na gawain lalo na sa droga,” he said.

(During election, voters have in their hands the power to prevent from taking office any candidate who may be involved in illegal activities , especially drugs.)

However, the League of Barangays believes otherwise.

According to its national president Edmund Abesamis, there is nothing wrong in disclosing the list especially if it is has been validated and the involved local officials have been charged in court.

“Kung sinasabi na baka ma preempt ang ongoing investigation, then ibig sabihin hindi pa confirmed na talagang validated ito dahil may ongoing investigation pa,” Abesamis said.

(If they’re saying it may preempt ongoing investigations, then it means the list has not been validated yet because investigations are still in progress.) — UNTV News & Rescue

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Some human right advocates submitted a report to UN Special Rapporteur narrating the recent attacks by the executive branch against members of the judiciary.

MANILA, Philippines — Several law groups including the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) and some human right advocates want the United Nations Special Rapporteur to take action on the recent tirades of President Rodrigo Duterte against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and the entire justice system.

The group submitted on Wednesday a report to UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers, Diego Garcia Sayán, narrating recent attacks by the executive branch against members of the judiciary which they believe threaten judicial independence in the country.

“Malaki ang impact niyan sa international relations natin sa iba’t ibang mga bansa. Apektado ang magiging economic policies, apektado ang pagpapadala ng migrant workers, ang trade natin,” said Atty. Arpee Santiago of the Ateneo Human Rights Council.

(It has a big impact on our international relations with various countries. It will affect the creation of our economic policies; the deployment of migrant workers and our trade.)

The groups’ primary concern is Duterte’s call to speed up the impeachment process against the chief justice who he recently tagged as his “enemy”. The groups also cited the President’s rant against IBP president Abdiel Fajardo following his remark regarding the Office of the Ombudsman.

The groups said justices and lawyers are being deprived of freedom of expression because those who criticize the Duterte administration are being tagged “criminals.”

“Tatawagin ka niyang gago, gunggong, kriminal, walang-hiya, bobo in public pag ikaw ay may sasabihin sa kanya magagalit ka. Ang problem dito, ang kanyang attacks nagte-threaten sa judicial independence sa independence of lawyers. He is immune from suite but he is not immune from investigation,” Neri Colmenares of the National Union of Lawyers in the Philippines said.

(He will call you stupid, criminal, shameless in public if you say something against him. The problem is, his attacks threaten the judicial independence, the independence of lawyers. He is immune from suit but he is not immune from investigation.)

The groups include the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP), National Union of People’s Lawyers, Ateneo Human Rights Center, Alternative Law Groups, Manananggol Laban sa EJKs, International Pro Bono Alliance and the Free Legal Assistance Group.

Meanwhile, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque reiterated that the call to impeach the Chief Justice did not originate from the executive.

“For the longest time, the President has been silent about the issue, notwithstanding the allegations made by CJ Sereno against the Chief Executive in many public fora saying the latter is behind her impeachment,” said Roque.

He added that the President’s statement on the CJ impeachment is just a reaction to these accusations and not an attack on the judiciary or an affront to judicial independence. — Grace Casin | UNTV News & Rescue

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President Rodrigo Roa Duterte strikes his signature pose with the kin of the 44 fallen troops of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Special Action Force (SAF) who were posthumously awarded with the Order of Lapu-Lapu Magalong Medal and the PNP Medal of Valor at the Heroes Hall in Malacañan Palace on April 17, 2018. REY BANIQUET/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

President Rodrigo Duterte awarded on Tuesday the Philippine National Police’s Medal of Valor to 42 of the 44 Special Action Force commandos who were killed in the Mamasapano encounter in 2015.

“It comes late but better late than never,” the President said during the conferment ceremony in Malacañang.

Two of them already posthumously received the award during the administration of former president Benigno Aquino III.

Aside from the Medal of Valor, the officers were also awarded the Order of Lapu-Lapu or the Magalong Medal.

“The extraordinary display of bravery during the faithful just does not qualify them to receive the highly coveted decoration, it makes them worthy to be called as heroes,” the President said.

The PNP Medal of Valor is the highest award of the PNP given to any member of the PNP who delivered an act of bravery and self-sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty.

Meanwhile, the Magalong Medal is awarded to government officials and personnel and private individuals who have rendered extraordinary service or contributions to the success of a campaign or advocacy of the president. — UNTV News & Rescue

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A local Comelec staff process the documents filed by a candidate for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections 2018

The Cebu Provincial Police office has identified a number of individuals on their drug watch list who filed for election in the May 14 polls.

Cebu Provincial Police Office Director Senior Supt. Edgar Alan Okubo, however, refused to reveal the names of the individuals.

Okubo instead reminds voters to be wise in choosing a leader for their community.

“We should not vote for them kung (if) we believe na (that) they are involved in a narco-politics,” said Okubo.

Meanwhile, the CPPO has recommended two barangays in Tuburan, Cebu to be included among election hot spots due to high-level of election-related violence in previous elections. Okubo, however, said they are still to revalidate reports.

“May mga patayan o ambush na nangyari (There have been incidents of killings or ambushes. So we will validate it well kung (if) it has the tendency to happen again,” the officer concluded. — UNTV News & Rescue

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The opportunity to help others and the health benefits of donating blood are two reasons first time-donors cited for joining the mass bloodletting event of Members Church of God International (MCGI) in Zamboanga on April 14, Saturday.

For 17-year-old Claricel Manson, she has long wanted to participate in this kind of event.

“Dumalo ako sa bloodletting last time and then ni-reject lang ako kasi 16 years old pa lang ako (I tried to join the bloodletting last time but was rejected because I was only 16 years old),” she said.

Though it can be daunting, first-time donor Ellyn Marie Yu finds helping others more important and such a fulfilling experience.

“Kabado baka medyo mahihirapan sa paghahanap [ng ugat] dahil chubby, pero okay naman po. So far so good,” she said.

(I’m a little nervous. Finding a vein might prove difficult because I’m chubby, but I’m fine with it. So far so good.)

A total of 65 bags were donated to Zamboanga Medical Center.

The partners of MCGI have expressed happiness over the success of high-volume recruitment of donors.

According to Carlo Evardo, head of the hospital’s donor recruitment, they need 50 to 60 on a daily basis.

“Priority po natin mga indigent persons kasi sila iyong mas nangangailangan, kasi hindi sila nakaka-afford ng dugo. Actually, iyong dugo libre lang but the processing fee iyong binabayran,” said Evardo.

(We prioritize indigents because they need it more and they cannot afford it. Actually, the blood is free but you have to pay for the processing fee.)

Meanwhile, four members of MCGI are set to receive the  Galloner Award of the Department of Health for donating  10 times.  — Dante Amento | UNTV News & Rescue

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