PBBM hails nurse who administered 1st COVID jab

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday extolled May Richell Cestina-Parsons, the Filipino-British nurse who administered the world’s first COVID-19 outside of clinical trials.

By Rey E. Requejo

THE Department of Justice (DOJ) said the guilty plea entered by several inmates at the National Bilibid Prison over the killing of broadcaster Percy Lapid and alleged middleman Jun Villamor strengthen the case against former Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag and former security deputy officer Ricardo Zulueta.

“We are establishing the link and every step of the way that there was really coordination and communication from Mr. Bantag and Mr. Zulueta to the gang leaders who have now pled guilty to the outside where they were able to find a gunman in Mr. Escorial,” Justice spokesperson Mico Clavano said, in an interview.

Clavano made the statement after a Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court sentenced inmates Mario Alvarez, Christian Ramac, Ricky Salgado, Ronnie Dela Cruz, and Joel Reyes after they pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of accomplice to the crime of murder.

The lower court also sentenced Aldrin Galicia, Alvin Labra, and Joseph Georfo after they pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of accessory.

Last week, a Las Piñas court sentenced Galicia, Labra, and Alfie Peñaredonda after they pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of accessories in the murder of Lapid.

“So we will just finalize the plea bargaining and the plea of guilt of the others which will further lend credibility to our theory of the case,” Clavano said.

State-run Radio Television Malacañang (RTVM) shared in its official Facebook page a short video clip of Marcos’ meeting with Cestina-Parsons at Malacañan Palace’s Study Room.

During Cestina-Parsons’ courtesy call on President Marcos, a presidential citation was bestowed on her. Cestina-Parsons earned the presidential citation “in recognition of her exemplary contributions, dedication to service, and exceptional leadership” and for “bringing honor and prestige to the Philippines and the Filipino people in being the first in the world to administer the COVID-19 vaccine outside of clinical trials.”

Mr. Marcos also honored CestinaParsons for her “steadfast efforts in promoting and advocating for the Philippines, Filipino nurses, and other healthcare professionals.”

Cestina-Parsons administered the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine shot to 90-year-old Margaret Keenan, the first person in the world to receive the jab, at a hospital in Coventry, England on Dec. 8, 2020.

‘GROUFIE’ WITH IMEE. Graduates of the University of Rizal System take a “groufie” with Senator Imee Marcos (in gray) at the Ynares Center Activity in Rizal. The senator was the keynote speaker during the 22nd Commencement Exercises of the said university.

PHILIPPINE Coast Guard (PCG) Commandant Admiral Artemio Abu, graced the donning of ranks and oath-taking ceremony of nearly 200 newly promoted commissioned officers at the National Headquarters, Port Area, Manila on Thursday.

Abu congratulated the 72 commissioned officers who received the next higher rank of “Lieutenant Senior Grade” and 123 public servants who took an oath with their new rank of “Lieutenant Junior Grade.”

In his speech, the Coast Guard Commandant reminded the promoted PCG personnel that their recent milestone is a sign of three critical S’s: Sincerity, Sacrifice and Success. Hence, he challenged them to prepare themselves for greater responsibilities.

“We work, we sacrifice, and we dedicate ourselves to our careers in the PCG, not for fame or fortune, but to provide a better life and better future for Filipinos,” CG Admiral Abu emphasized. Vince Lopez

Pope Francis names bishop for Mindoro

POPE Francis has named the country’s youngest Catholic prelate as the new bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Calapan in Oriental Mindoro.

The appointment of 49-yearold Bishop Moises Cuevas, currently the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga, was announced by the Vatican on Thursday, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) reported on its news website on Friday.

Cuevas, who hails from Batangas City, was ordained a priest of the Zamboanga Archdiocese in 2000. The Holy Father appointed him as the archdiocese’s auxiliary bishop in March 2020.

Cuevas is also the apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Zamboanga while waiting for the installation of new Zamboanga Archbishop Julius Tonel on August 22.

DFA: Pinoys suffered injuries during Hajj

THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday said more than 200 Filipino pilgrims have been stranded in Muzdalifah, Saudi Arabia during the observance of Hajj, or the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.

Citing reports from the Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia, the DFA also said that 10 Filipino pilgrims “required further medical attention and were taken to nearby hospitals”.

The Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia reported that thousands reportedly suffered heat stress on the Hajj pilgrimage.

“While ten Filipino pilgrims required further medical attention and were taken to nearby hospitals, they were discharged shortly thereafter and returned to their tents in Mina without incident,” the Philippine Embassy said. Rey E. Requejo