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Lockdown eased in NCR Alert Level 4 sets calibrated reopening; experts wary of new surge
By Willie Casas and Joel E. Zurbano
JAPAN WARNS PH OF TERROR THREAT
T
HE success of the government’s new Alert Level system against the coronavirus pandemic—which intends to spur the economy despite fears it may add to the current surge of COVID-19 cases— will depend on how local government units implement the granular lockdowns in their areas, the president of the Philippine College of Physicians said Tuesday.
STORY BELOW
VOL. XXXV • NO. 212 • 2 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Metro Manila will be under Alert Level 4 during the first week of the pilot implementation of the COVID-19 Alert Level System, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said on Tuesday. Next page
HIGH TIME. Food attendant at a high-end restaurant in Alabang prepares
a table set-up ahead of the easing of quarantine controls effective Sept. 16 with Metro Manila under "Alert Level 4". This means restaurants can allow 10% capacity for dine-ins or 30% for al fresco dining. Together with the partial opening of nonessential businesses, the government expects to bring P100 million a week into the pandemic-hit economy but experts caution against premature relaxation of curbs, fearing a sharp upsurge in infections.
Low COVID tally WHO calls for moratorium on booster jab shots as 12 labs fail to report cases By Julito G. Rada, Willie Casas, Macon RamosAraneta and Maricel V. Cruz
By Willie Casas and Rio N. Araja THE Philippines logged on Tuesday 18,056 new cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), bringing the total to 2,266,066, as all labs were operational while 12 laboratories were not able to submit their data on time, the Department of Health reported.
THE World Health Organization has called vaccines worldwide. completed a two-dose regimen of the for a moratorium on the administration WHO Country Representative Dr. anti-COVID jabs. of booster shots of COVID-19 vaccines, Rabindra Abeyasinghe defines a booster Citing global vaccine inequity as a Next page given the inequitable distribution of as a 3rd dose for people who have already
Palace-Senate ‘ruckus’ looms over probes By Macon Ramos-Araneta
Next page
2,266,066 18,056
177,670
35,529
222
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is requiring all Cabinet secretaries to first get his approval before attending Senate hearings on the deficiencies in the government’s use of COVID-19 pandemic funds. Duterte expressed frustration over how a series of hearings “wasted” officials’ time by letting them sit for long hours to listen to “rambling” that was meant to give exposure to lawmakers running for office in 2022. “I will require every Cabinet member Next page
2,052,867 20,542
ACIERTO, VILLANUEVA IN UNWITTING ROLES
(As of 4 PM, SEPTEMBER 14)
NEWS / A2
POPE BUBBLE. Pope Francis drives in an open vehicle to greet the faithful celebrating a Byzantine divine liturgy on September 14, 2021 in Slovakia where he met with Holocaust survivors on his fourday visit. AFP
Lookout order issued vs. Lao, 7 Pharmally execs By Rey E. Requejo and Macon Ramos-Araneta
against former Budget Undersecretary Also on the list are Overall Deputy Christopher Lloyd Lao and seven oth- Ombudsman Warren Rex Liong and ers being questioned by the Senate about Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. officials THE Department of Justice has issued alleged irregularities in the purchase of Twinkle Dargani, Huang Tzu Yen, Krizle Next page an immigration lookout bulletin order pandemic-related supplies.
Año to Roque: Japan warns of terror attack in PH Keep your cool By Rey E. Requejo
By Macon Ramos-Araneta and Willie Casas
'BER VIBE. You know the Christmas season is here when lantern makers begin their trade, like this man assembling the famous ornament on Molino Boulevard in Bacoor. Cavite. Lanterns fetch a price ranging from P550 apiece to P3,500. Avito C. Dalan
INTERIOR Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday advised government officials to remain "cool" during meetings after Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque was seen in a leaked video berating a group of doctors during a virtual meeting last week. In a television interview with CNN Philippines, Año also apologized to the health sector for the "unfortunate event that never should have happened." Next page
THE Embassy of Japan in the Philippines confirmed on Tuesday it has received information about a possible terror attack that may occur in any of the six Southeast Asian countries, including the Philippines. In a statement, the embassy stressed the THREAT LINGERS. An "Area Closed" sign appears on temporary security fencing outside the US Capitol in Japanese government Washington, DC, September 13, 2021, as security increases has issued a warning ahead of the planned September 18 rally in support of the Next page January 6 insurrectionists on Capitol Hill. AFP