Manila Standard - 2021 July 8 - Thursday

Page 1

Missed your copy of Manila Standard? Call or text our Circulation Hotline at 0917-8848655 or email: circulation@manilastandard.net

LAKAS HAILS REVILLA RULING: IN THE END, TRUTH PREVAILED By Maricel V. Cruz

VOL. XXXV • NO. 143 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • THURSDAY, JULY 8, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com

COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE

(AS OF 4 PM JULY 7)

1,450,110 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES

4,289 47,519 NEW

ACTIVE

25,459

164

1,377,132

6,399

NEW

DEATHS

RECOVERIES

NEW

THE Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) on Wednesday welcomed the ruling of the Sandiganbayan acquitting its party chairman, Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr., of graft charges in connection with the alleged pork barrel scam.

Next page

Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr.

Border closure mulled

Duterte eyes tighter controls to prevent Lambda outbreak By Vito Barcelo and Willie Casas

BACK IN PALACE.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases core members at the Malago Clubhouse in Malacañang Park, Manila on Tuesday. Presidential Photo

T

HE Philippines may close its borders again to prevent foreigners from spreading the more transmissible Lambda coronavirus variant, President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday night. “One of the most effective methods of controlling contamination entering our shores could really be border controls,” Duterte said in his weekly meeting with Cabinet members, after reports said the new strain of COVID-19, which might be deadlier than the Delta variant, was detected in the UK. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III concurred with the President that borders should be closed if there is a breakout of the Lambda variant, which was first detected in Peru, and which has spread rapidly in South America, where it accounts for 80 percent of new cases. But Duque also said the Philippines has been effective in preventing the entry of new variants such as the Delta variant. While there are 19 cases of the Delta variant, these are all from Filipinos traveling home from overseas, and there is no evidence of a local case, he said. “We have been effective in preventing the introduction of the Delta variant into households and into communities and we hope to keep it that way,” Duque said.

Travellers must undergo swab testing—DOH By Willie Casas and Joel Zurbano THE Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday tourists must present a negative COVID-19 test result when traveling to the other provinces because local government unit leaders needed to finalize a new policy, which would allow fully-vaccinated individuals to travel without the swab tests. The national government earlier said it was no longer required for tourists who received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines to present negative COVID-19 tests in provincial borders. However, several local government leaders raised concerns that it would

Next page

Next page

Half of population must get jab before curbs are lifted—Galvez Rody on VP run: I think I’m sold to the idea

COVID-19 restrictions will not be lifted until at least 50 percent of the population has been vaccinated, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Wednesday. “We also want the restrictions lifted since these have been affecting the jobs of our people, but we have to trust the doctors and the experts of the best way to address the virus,” Lorenzana said. “Until we vaccinate 50 percent of our population, we will have restrictions, although not at the strictest level but at a level that will prevent the spread of the virus,” he added. The Philippines has vaccinated 12 million people so far, but fewer than half of these have received the needed second dose.

By Vito Barcelo and Maricel V. Cruz

Duterte warning: don’t sell vaccines President Duterte renewed his warning against unscrupulous Next page

NO JABS, NO PEOPLE. The Marikina vaccination center stands empty on Wednesday after the city government called off

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is seriously thinking of running for vice president in the forthcoming 2022 national elections, when his six-year term as chief executive under the 1987 Constitution expires. “To the proposition that I run for vice president, I think I’m sold to the idea. Meaning to say, I’m seriously thinking of running for vice president,” Duterte said during his meeting with PDP-Laban party mates on Tuesday night. Duterte is being urged by his partymates to seek the second highest elected post in the country. House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco said Wednesday that if it were possible to do so, the members of the ruling party would want to extend his term as President. Next page

inoculations due to the delay in arrival of new COVID-19 vaccines. Manny Palmero

C-130 crash: 19 soldiers identified By Rey E. Requejo, Macon Ramos-Araneta, and Maricel V. Cruz

PAUL, SUNS DOMINATE MILWAUKEE SPORTS / C1

ARMED Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Cirilito Sobejana on Wednesday said 19 out of the 49 military troops who perished in the July 4 crash of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) C-130H “Hercules” cargo plane in Patikul, Sulu have been identified. In an interview with GMA’s morning show “Unang Hirit”, Sobejana said these include the two PAF personnel whose remains were transported to Clark Air Base in Pampanga Tuesday afternoon, and two others that were transported by land to Mindanao. The military deaths include eight

Next page

HAITIAN PRESIDENT MOISE ASSASSINATED NEWS / A2

KEEP PEACEFUL TIES WITH CHINA—RODY NEWS / A4


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.