Manila Standard - 2020 November 26 - Thursday

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Solons can be sued for graft DOJ says criminal prosecution exempts no one; ‘Fewer than 12’ on kickback By Rey E. Requejo and Vito Barcelo

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AWMAKERS are not exempt from criminal prosecution for corruption, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Wednesday. This was after Presidential AntiCorruption Commission (PACC) head Greco Belgica said there were fewer than 12 congressmen on his list who were linked to anomalous public-works projects. Belgica said these lawmakers, who he did not identify, should face formal investigation, but the list has been transmitted to President Rodrigo Duterte. However, Belgica said the PACC cannot pursue further investigation on the legislators because the commission is only mandated to cover presidential

‘RED WEDNESDAY’ CHURCH.

The Manila Cathedral is lit up in red on the outside and in (inset) as Roman Catholics worldwide marked ‘Red Wednesday’ in solidarity with persecuted Christians worldwide. This year, the color is also dedicated to the victims of recent typhoons, those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the country’s frontliners. Norman Cruz

35m Filipinos as priority for virus vaccine

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COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM NOVEMBER 25)

422,915 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

1,202 27,745 NEW

ACTIVE

8,215

31

386,955

183

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

NEW

VOL. XXXIV • NO. 265 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2020 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

THE government already has a list of 35 million Filipinos that will get priority access to vaccines against COVID-19, which will be available either by the second quarter of 2021 or by the middle of 2021, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Wednesday. Galvez said the government targets to vaccinate 60 million to 70 million Filipinos in five years in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We already have the list of more Next page

‘8888’ text line for complaints now live, is free

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Gov’t puts cap on nasal swab; P5k maximum STATESIDE PARTNERS. In a 2015 file photo (right), former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario shakes hands with US Deputy Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, who is now

the nominee for US Secretary of State under President-elect Joseph Biden’s incoming administration. Meanwhile, officials of the Philippine Navy inspect the advanced ScanEagle fixed wing unmanned aerial system (UAS) provided by the US Maritime Security Initiative Program in a turnover ceremony at Sangley Point in Cavite.

‘PH may be drawn into sea war’ DEFENSE Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said the Philippines would be dragged into the rising tension between the United States and China in the South China Sea if a shooting war would break out between them. In his speech during a forum of the Stratbase ADR Institute, Lorenzana stressed that the escalating tension between the two superpowers “has occupied the interest and time of the security agencies in the region.” “This then is the crux of the security

challenge in the Indo-Pacific region, the looming confrontation of the US and its allies and China over the South China Sea,” Lorenzana said. Meanwhile, the Philippine Navy’s capability to do various missions at sea will be greatly enhanced by the advanced fixed-wing unmanned aerial system provided by the United States, naval officials said. “Whatever missions that we are capable of before, with this system it will

By Willie Casas THE government has recommended the RT-PCR (nasal swab) test for COVID-19 to be priced from P3,800 to P5,000 at the maximum, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III announced on Wednesday. Duque said the price cap, provided under the Joint Administrative Order of the health and trade departments, set the price cap of RT-PCR test at P3,800 for public facilities and P4,500 Next page

100 CASES FILED. Public Attorney’s

Office chief Persida Acosta answers queries on Wednesday after leading the filing of an additional 100 criminal charges before the Department of Justice against Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, former DOH chief Janet Garin, other government officials, representatives of Sanofi Pasteur, and ten doctors for the death of school children who were injected with the Dengvaxia vaccine. Norman Cruz

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Lacson seeks to realign P63b for ‘responsive budget’ By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Maricel V. Cruz

them to local government units hardest hit by recent typhoons, and to ensure the P4.5-trillion 2021 national budget SENATOR Panfilo M. Lacson wants bill “is responsive to the times.” Lacson said Wednesday his proposed to slash P63 billion from the budgets of three government agencies to realign amendments include augmenting the

SEASON OF LIGHTS. The dancing musical fountain near the newly lit 40-foot

Christmas tree in front of the Manila City Hall brings yuletide cheers to families and passersby on Tuesday night. Norman Cruz

It’s official: No caroling this Xmas By Vito Barcelo THE government has banned the traditional house-to-house Christmas caroling this year to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), National Task Force Against COVID

19 Implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. said Wednesday. In a press briefing, Galvez said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Infectious Diseases has already approved the recommenNext page

On Dec. 1, court personnel start 4-day workweek By Rey E. Requejo A FOUR-DAY workweek for officials and employees of the Supreme Court, the appellate courts and the trial courts nationwide will be implemented starting December

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budgets to ensure health, development, and economic recovery in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Also, the senator said he is open to passing a special budget or special law Next page


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