Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Sunday, February 6, 2022, brought to you by Wilcon Depot, the country's leading home improvement and construction supplies retailer. Shop conveniently 24/7 with the Wilcon online store, just go to shop.wilcon.com.ph.
'No parents' consent, no jabs for children'
WITH the government rollout of vaccines against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) for children from 5 to 11 years old set on Monday, February 7, four mayors in the National Capital Region (NCR) said they would allow the inoculation only with the consent of their parents or guardians. Quezon City Mayor Josefina "Joy" Belmonte, Valenzuela City Mayor Rexlon "Rex" Gatchalian, Malabon City Mayor Antolin "Lenlen" Oreta 3rd and Navotas City Mayor Tobias "Toby" Tiangco issued the condition separately even as Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez Jr. assured the public that the jabs were "safe and have been studied by scientists across the globe." Galvez, also chief implementer of National Task Force Against Covid-19 (NTF), gave the assurance during the arrival of 780,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine for children at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Friday night. The vaccine czar said that 167,000 children have been registered to take part in the vaccination of minors set on Monday. The four mayors said they have a responsibility to their constituents whom they must guide and protect. Broadcast journalist Dominic Almelor and Girlie Samonte sought a temporary restraining order (TRO) and writ of preliminary injunction against the "unconstitutional" vaccination for kids. Assisted by Public Attorney's Office (PAO) Chief Persida Rueda-Acosta, the parents filed their petition before Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Primo Sio Jr. of Branch 96. The Department of Health (DoH) memorandum, which was signed by Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire, states that "in case the parent or guardian refuses to give consent to the vaccination despite the desire and willingness of the minor child to have himself/herself vaccinated or there are no persons that may legally exercise parental authority over the child, the State may act as 'parens patriae' and give the necessary consent."
Concepcion wants booster cards in high-vax areas
PRESIDENTIAL Adviser for Entrepreneurship Jose Maria "Joey" Concepcion 3rd on Saturday suggested that regions with high vaccination rate should require Covid-19 booster cards as an added precaution against Covid-19. Concepcion said he understands that it is quite unfair to require it of people who have no access to boosters yet but cautioned that areas where the majority of the population has received the basic two shots would be at risk without a booster, considering the efficacy of most Covid vaccines wanes within four to six months after administration. He said his recommendation is especially valid in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Quiboloy's extradition in the hands of DFA, DoJ
JUSTICE Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Saturday that the extradition of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ Church can only be done through proper channels upon the request of the United States government. Guevarra made the statement after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released "Wanted" posters for Quiboloy on Saturday morning (Manila time). Guevarra stressed that the DoJ can only process Quiboloy's extradition upon the endorsement of the DFA. A description accompanying Quiboloy's photo on the FBI website said the Davao City-based religious leader is wanted for conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling.
Biden names new US envoy to PH
PRESIDENT Joe Biden announced three key nominees to his administration, including the new ambassador to the Philippines. In a statement from Washington D.C. on February 4 (February 5 in Manila), Biden said he was nominating MaryKay Carlson as ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to the Republic of the Philippines. Carlson, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of minister-counselor, currently serves as the deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Marcos vows to strengthen PCGG
IF elected president in the national elections, former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Saturday vowed to strengthen the agency that had been tasked to recover his family's supposed ill-gotten wealth by defining its role in the government's anti-corruption drive. Guesting in DZBB's "Ikaw Na Ba? Presidential Interviews," Marcos said he would not abolish the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), the body that was created during the presidency of the late Corazon Aquino. Aquino formed the PCGG shortly after the Marcoses were ousted in 1986 in a people power revolt over allegations of corruption during the 20-year rule of the late president Ferdinand Marcos. Speaking in Filipino, the former senator saw the need to study what the PCGG's role would be in the government's anti-corruption drive. Retired Supreme Court associate justice Antonio Carpio had said that government efforts to recover the ill-gotten wealth would likely stop if Marcos is elected president. The PCGG has recovered at least P171 billion from the Marcos family and is in the process of running after P125 billion more in stolen assets. In 2003, the Supreme Court ruled with finality that the funds hidden in bank accounts and foundations in Switzerland at $658 billion or P33 trillion form part of the family's ill-gotten wealth. It also forfeited some $3.37 million or P172 million assets under a dummy corporation, as well as around $150,000 or P7.6 million worth of jewelry in separate rulings.
Robredo: Leadership is stepping up, showing up
DESPITE a tight schedule and poor internet connection, Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo pushed through with her participation in the three-hour "Panata sa Bayan: The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) Presidential Forum" on Friday, February 4. Aside from Robredo, the KBP presidential forum was attended by candidates Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, Senator Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao Sr., Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko" Moreno Domagoso, and Leodegario "Ka Leody" de Guzman. Due to a scheduling problem, Marcos was unable to attend. According to the Vice President, she provides the Filipino people with the type of leadership that would ensure an honest, capable, hardworking and dependable administration.
In business, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) commended the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for supporting digital disbursements. The DILG released an advisory urging the use of digital payments to improve the efficiency of government transactions and the delivery of social services to the public, the central bank noted in a statement over the weekend. It said the advisory, signed by DILG Secretary Eduardo Año on January 26 this year, urges on the department's regional offices and local governments to encourage and use digital disbursement in the distribution of local and national financial assistance programs to their recipients' transaction accounts. They were also tasked with assisting their constituents who did not have any current transaction accounts to have free-of-charge Land Bank of the Philippines accounts opened at over 300 Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) registration offices. For registrants/unbanked constituents with smartphones, they can maximize the account using the LANDBANKPay mobile wallet. Local governments and regional offices were also asked to join PhilSys in promoting digital payments as a means of transferring government aid to their residents in a more efficient and secure manner. They were also called to work with LandBank to organize the digital transfer of monetary aid, or ayuda, to qualified constituents using the bank's transaction accounts.
In sports, Filipino pole vaulter Ernest John "EJ" Obiena started his 2022 campaign with a fourth place finish in the Istaf Indoor competition at the MercedesBenz Arena in Berlin, Germany early Saturday (Philippine time). Clearly not on his peak form yet, Obiena's best jump on Saturday was 5.70 meters. The 26-year-old Olympian tried to surpass that by aiming for 5.81 meters, but he was unsuccessful in three attempts. Obiena, who went under the knife on January 12 to remove the screw that was placed in his knee during an ACL reconstruction procedure in 2017, officially started his 2022 pole vault campaign with an attempt at the 5.45-meter bar.
Our front page columnist today is Marlen Ronquillo. He assesses the Senate's last days in session before the elections.
Today's editorial believes a hybrid election system can restore faith in the Philippine voting process. Read a full version on the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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For The Manila Times, this is Paulo Dimaapi.