MANILA: Fourteen communist rebels have surrendered to police authorities in the past three days in Soccsksargen region to become productive community residents, a regional police official said Monday.

‘Ten of the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels gave up Monday morning to the Sultan Kudarat provincial police operatives in Barangay Bai Saripinang, Bagumbayan town,’ said Brig. Gen. Jimili Macaraeg, Soccsksargen police office (PRO-12) director.

Macaraeg said the group belonged to the Platoon Cherry Mobile, NPA Front Guerilla Daguma Range-Far South Mindanao Region.

One of the surrenderers, who requested anonymity, claimed that they were promised “wonderful things” if they joined, but instead were subjected to hardships by their NPA leaders.

He and his colleagues turned in an improvised M203 grenade launcher and a .38-caliber revolver.

Meanwhile, four communist rebels- two from Maitum, Sarangani province, and two from Surallah, South Cotabato- also decided to abandon the armed struggle on Dec. 16.

Two rebels s
urrendered in Barangay Pangi, Maitum, while the other two surrendered in Barangay Centrala, Surallah. They turned over high-powered rifles and two rifle grenades.

Since January, over 120 NPA rebels have surrendered in the provinces of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, and Sarangani.
Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The sudden uptick in cases of respiratory illnesses or respiratory influenza-like illness (ILI) was due to the stronger monitoring and surveillance of the government in the health sector after the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

DOH Assistant Secretary for Public Health Services Mylene Beltran, during a public inquiry by the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, said on Monday this surge of cases is similar to the trends that the Department has recorded in similar previous periods, globally.

“Any ILI case is now being monitored compared to then na Covid-19 lang po ang ating minomonitor (that only Covid-19 cases were being monitored),” Beltran told the panel noting that so far no local government unit has declared an outbreak.

Further, Beltran cited the lifting of health restrictions and the population crowding and being more mobile as reasons.

“We have already set in place mechanisms and systems to be able to be more prepared and we’v
e learned lessons from the Covid-19 experience,” she assured.

Although it is currently voluntary, Beltran said DOH encourages everyone to wear face masks.

ILI, she said, covers those suffering from fever or experiencing respiratory signs or symptoms like sore throat or cough.

DOH Epidemiology Bureau Chief Dr. Alethea de Guzman said influenza, Covid-19, or even the walking pneumonia almost have the same symptoms.

“Ang pamamaraan para malaman kung alin po dun sa mga yun ay kapag nakuhanan po tayo ng sample. Yun pong throat swab or [oropharyngeal swabs] OPS and [nasopharyngeal swabs] NPS na tinatawag natin (The way to determine is to give a sample. Throat swab or we call the [oropharyngeal swabs] OPS and [nasopharyngeal swabs] NPS),” de Guzman said.

She urged young ones, elders, and those who have comorbidities experiencing ILI symptoms to be tested in hospitals or at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

Dr. Razel Nikka Hao, chief of DOH’s Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, emphasized the impo
rtance of observing minimum public health standards like cough and other respiratory etiquette.

Hao also noted that aside from flu and pneumonia, the DOH has been providing influenza and pneumococcal vaccines, especially for indigent elderlies.

“This year, we were able to distribute these across the regions by August and every year yan na binibili at ipinamimigay ng (it is being procured and being distributed by the) Department of Health. So, rest assured next year, we are actually expanding that it’s not just anymore the indigent but other adults with comorbidities will be able to use the pneumococcal and influenza vaccines,” she said.

The panel being chaired by Senator Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go conducted an inquiry into the matter in response to the resolution filed by Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva to look into the preparedness of the government on the reported global rise of respiratory illnesses.

“Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the need for us to always prioritize the resilience of our co
mmunities and our health systems on which they depend. We learned a lot from the pandemic and we pushed to strengthen our healthcare systems so that we could always be prepared for whatever health emergency may come,’ Go said.

According to Go, the Chinese National Health Commission reported an increase in the incidence of respiratory diseases last month.

He said Europe and North America likewise reported an increase in respiratory incidence.
Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday joined the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in condemning North Korea’s reported firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan.

North Korea reportedly fired a long-range ballistic missile, which supposedly fell into the sea, west of Hokkaido, according to Japan’s coast guard.

‘We join Japan, together with the rest of the ASEAN, in condemning the continued threat that the launching [of] ballistic missiles by the DPRK [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] represents,’ Marcos said.

The President made the statement before his speech during the meeting of Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) leaders at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo, Japan as part of the 50th Commemorative ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation Summit.

‘As we speak on economic progress in our region, we found these aspirations on a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific Region. So, such dangerous and provocative actions by the DPRK threaten and destabi
lize the region and the world,’ Marcos said.
Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Philippine National Police (PNP) will follow its security template for the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9, 2024 but will have stringent monitoring schemes following the Mindanao State University-Marawi bombing on Dec. 3.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo, in a press conference held at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Monday, said they will be more stringent in their surveillance works.

“It is very important to validate the information if there are serious threat monitored,” she said.

Fajardo said the PNP will be on maximum deployment for the Traslacion and the entire National Capital Region police will be on full alert until the event is over.

The security preparation started with a walkthrough on Saturday, starting at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park and up to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene or Quiapo Church in Quezon Boulevard.

‘Maliban sa simulation exercises, walkthrough, even ‘yung mga communication exercises in coordination of course doon sa ating mga other agencies con
cerned and doon sa mga namamahala diyan sa simbahan ng Quiapo and other areas. Hindi lang naman sa Quiapo [ang] babantayan diyan, mga ibang areas ay may mga ganito ring pagtitipon (Other than the simulation exercises, and walkthrough, even the communication exercises in coordination with our other agencies concerned and those in charge of Quiapo Church and other areas. It’s not just the areas in Quiapo that we have to watch over, but other areas that have similar gatherings),’ Fajardo said.

The last procession in 2020 had about three million participants joining the shorter Traslacion route that lasted 16 hours.

It was shelved in 2021 and 2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This year, a ‘Walk of Faith’ sans the Traslacion lured 1.2 million devotees over two days.
Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Monday that he and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to immediately finalize the discussion on the planned Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), stressing that the Philippines will continue to talk with other like-minded nations to resolve the issue in the South China Sea.

In a media interview before returning to the Philippines, the President was asked about the specific timeline for the finalization of the RAA.

‘I think both Prime Minister and I agree, ASAP lahat ito is – as soon as possible, yesterday, if not sooner,’ he said.

The RAA has been in the works for some time but both countries sharpened their focus as a result of the recent incidents in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), he said, noting that he is looking forward to having such an arrangement not only with Japan, but also with other countries to give the Philippine big multiplier effect in terms of capability.

Such discussions, he said, become a very important part of these trips, saying
that he approached other leaders during formal discussions to talk about security issues in the WPS.

‘This is one of the products of that. We also have the same kind of negotiations or discussions with many other countries. We’ll continue to do that para maraming tumutulong sa atin, sa problemang hinaharap natin sa South China Sea,’ he noted.

The RAA is expected to greatly boost maritime cooperation between the two countries as the proposed RAA will facilitate the procedures and set guidelines when Philippine forces visit Japan for training and joint exercises, and vice versa.

Formal negotiations on the RAA were held in Tokyo on Nov. 29-30 of this year, with the Philippine delegation being headed by the Department of National Defense, accompanied by negotiating teams from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Justice.

Asked to comment on the reported presence of an extraordinary number of Chinese vessels in Ayungin shoal, the President said that his government is very circumspect in its acti
ons to avoid unintended results.

‘Of course, we’re exerting all efforts now but it’s the… we have to be very careful that we do not overreact, that we do not make mistakes that might be misinterpreted by anyone,’ he told reporters.

‘Kailangan talaga maingat tayo dahil pag may nangyari ulit diyan… if we heightened the tensions, it won’t lead us to a good result. So we are being very circumspect in the actions that we will take,’ he added.

Critical move

Speaker Martin Romualdez on Monday said the ongoing talks between the Philippines and Japan on RAA for the deployment of military forces would be a critical move amid escalating regional tensions.

“The collaboration between the Philippines and Japan, as well as our alliance with other like-minded nations, is crucial in addressing the growing challenges we face in the region,’ Romualdez said in a statement.

‘It is evident that the complexities of the current geopolitical climate, particularly the aggressive actions of China in the South China Sea, require r
obust and cooperative solutions,’ he added.

Romualdez stressed the need for sustained dialogue and peaceful negotiations among all parties involved.

“While we remain committed to defending our national interests and upholding our sovereign rights, it is equally imperative to pursue diplomatic avenues and peaceful engagements,” he said.

He called for greater international cooperation and unity in addressing the challenges in the South China Sea.

“The safety and prosperity of our region hinge on our ability to work together. The Philippines, under the leadership of President Marcos, remains steadfast in its resolve to promote regional stability, peace, and progress,” he said.

He noted that under President Marcos’ administration, the Philippines has maintained a policy adhering to international rules-based order and ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Romualdez further noted that the ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016, which invalidated China’s expansive claims in the South Chin
a Sea, is an essential component of the legal framework “governing our actions and stands as a testament to our commitment to international law and order.”

The RAA is expected to boost maritime cooperation between the two countries as the proposed RAA will facilitate the procedures and set guidelines when Philippine forces visit Japan for training and joint exercises, and vice versa.
Source: Philippines News Agency

MANILA: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to give its side on the suit filed by Smartmatic, which challenged its disqualification from the bidding process for the automated election system for the 2025 midterm polls.

In its three-page order, the SC ordered the submission of Comelec’s comments within 10 days on the petition against Smartmatic filed by former Department of Information and Communications Technology chief Eliseo Rio Jr., former Comelec commissioner Augusto Lagman, Franklin Ysaac, and Leonardo Odoño.

The petitioners claimed Smartmatic “failed to comply with certain minimum system capabilities that resulted in serious and grave irregularities in the transmission and receipt of election return” during the 2022 polls.

In a resolution released Nov. 29, the Comelec disqualified the Venezuela-based company, which was the provider of the Philippines’ automated election system since 2010.

‘Smartmatic Philippines, Inc. is disqualified and disallowed from particip
ating in any public bidding process for elections, in the exercise of its administrative power to decide all matters affecting the election and in pursuit of its constitutional mandate,’ the Comelec en banc ruled.

The poll body also recognized the imminent threat to the integrity of the country’s electoral process posed by the investigation of the United States government on allegations of irregularities hurled against the company and former Comelec chairperson Andres Bautista, which include bribery payments.

The Comelec Special Bids and Awards Committee will decide on Smartmatic’s possible permanent disqualification and blacklisting from all government procurement proceedings, not just election-related.

Meanwhile, the poll body said it is ready to comply with the order of the SC on the petition by Smartmatic questioning the former’s decision disqualifying the company from participating in an election-related bidding process.

Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said they have yet to receive a copy o
f the decision.

But, he assured they would comply with the order.

‘Although we have yet to receive our official copy of the Order (per information of the Office of the Clerk of the Commission), the Commission on Elections shall remain consistent to its commitment to comply with the directives of Supreme Court, and at this instance, with the assistance of the Office of the Solicitor General,’ the poll body said in a separate message.
Source: Philippines News Agency