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Senator pushes stricter health measures in schools vs mpox

REUTERS

A PHILIPPINE senator on Thursday urged schools to enforce stricter health and safety measures after the Health department detected the first monkeypox (mpox) case in the country this year.

“We must continue to push steps to maintain the sanitation and safety of our country’s schools, especially since the first case of mpox this year involved someone who did not leave the country,” Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian said in a statement in Filipino. “This means the virus is just here.”

He reiterated his call to set up a Philippine Center for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure contingency plans for infectious diseases and viruses.

The senator earlier filed Senate Bill No. 1869, which will establish the center, which will serve as a technical authority on forecasting, analysis and the development of standards for infectious diseases.

The Department of Health (DoH) on Monday said it detected a new case of mpox, days after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency amid an uptick in cases in African countries.

The patient was a 33-year-old Filipino male with no travel history outside the Philippines, the agency said. He was the 10th case overall and the first since the WHO declared the outbreak in African countries a “public health emergency of international concern.”

The Filipino carrier visited an illegal spa and a dermatology clinic in Quezon City and had over a dozen close contacts there, Quezon City Mayor Josefina “Joy” Belmonte-Alimurung told a news briefing on Wednesday.

The 41 close contacts of the patient, who is not a resident of the country’s most populous city, were under quarantine. She said authorities had closed down the spa in the absence of a permit and other documents.

Earlier in the day, Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa said the patient, who has no travel history outside the country, was infected with a mild Clade 2 variant and not the newer and potentially deadlier variant that is spreading rapidly in African countries.

The DoH earlier said four cases were detected in the country in 2022. Last year, three cases were logged in December and one each in July and May. All patients have recovered.

WHO Director for Europe Hans Kluge on Wednesday said the public was at lower risk to mpox than the coronavirus.

The global health agency declared an end to the COVID-19 pandemic after three years.

Common symptoms of mpox include skin rashes or mucosal lesions, which can last two to four weeks and are accompanied by fever, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy and swollen lymph nodes.

Mpox can be transmitted to humans through close contact, from infected animals or from contaminated materials such as used clothes or utensils.

Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy S. Binay-Angeles on Aug. 19 filed a resolution urging the Department of Health to come up with an action plan to mitigate the spread of mpox.

“It is vital that appropriate measures are in place to prevent or mitigate the impact of the disease and safeguard public health,” she said in Senate Resolution No. 1159.

“It is likewise imperative for the Senate to look into the adequacy of the DoH’s and other relevant agencies’ response to the WHO guidance on mpox including public awareness strategies… to enhance the country’s preparedness and response to mpox and similar public health threats,” she added. — John Victor D. Ordoñez

Sandiganbayan overturns Estrada’s bribery conviction

PHILIPPINE STAR/ MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

THE PHILIPPINES’ anti-graft court has reversed the bribery charges against Senator Jose “Jinggoy” P. Ejercito Estrada in connection with a multibillion-peso pork barrel scam.

In a 26-page resolution promulgated on Aug. 22, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division said the prosecution failed to prove that the senator had received a P1-million bribe from businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles.

“Since there is no proof which shows that Estrada received the amount of P1 million… it is doubtful whether he voluntarily acceded to the said transaction,” according to a copy of the resolution written by Associate Justice Ma. Theresa V. Mendoza-Arcega.

“The delivery of the subject money… cannot be construed as the bribe received by Estrada, since the prosecution failed to establish the connection between cash received by [the staff] from Napoles and the deposit made to Estrada’s account,” it added.

The court, however, upheld its conviction of Ms. Napoles for corruption of public officials, saying she had tried to bribe Mr. Estrada’s staff.  Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

Longer car registration eyed

Motorists are seen stuck in traffic along the southbound lane of the Southern Luzon Expressway (SLEX) in this file photo. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

A BILL that seeks to extend the validity of motor vehicle registration has been filed at the House of Representatives.

House Bill No. 10696 by Las Piñas Rep. Camille A. Villar will extend the registration of brand-new vehicles to five years from three years and new motorcycles to three years from one year.

It also extends the validity period for renewed vehicle registration to three years for cars aged five to seven years, while the registration of motorcycles aged three to seven years will be valid for two years.

“I recognize the predicament of motor vehicle owners who troop to renewal centers every year to renew their motor vehicle registrations,” Ms. Villar said in a statement on Thursday. “This annual occurrence entails the use of precious time and resources, both financial and nonfinancial.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

DA urged to work with police vs ASF

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) should seek the help of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in manning more checkpoints along highways as part of efforts to curb the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF), a congressman said on Thursday.

The agency should partner with the PNP’s Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to ensure that hogs being delivered to markets are free from the disease, Party-list Rep. Wilbert T. Lee said in a statement.

“All hands must be on deck to genuinely curb ASF,” he said. “We have force multipliers available from the PNP, HPG and from PPA that could be deployed should the Bureau of Animal Industry decide to set up more checkpoints along major highways and ports.” — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

House bill protecting refugees filed

The House of Representatives is seen at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City. — PHILIPPINE STAR/MIGUEL DE GUZMAN

A BILL that seeks to set up a refugee coordinating body to protect refugees and streamline the asylum-seeking process in the Philippines has been filed at the House of Representatives.

Party-list Rep. Jude A. Acidre, one of the authors of House Bill (HB) No. 10799, said the state should not discriminate against refugees applying for asylum in the country.

He cited the need to strengthen the rights of stateless persons, which are enshrined in international conventions that the Philippines ratified, he said in a statement on Thursday.

The Philippines is a party to the United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol on refugees.

“This bill is a testament to our unwavering dedication to upholding human dignity and ensuring no one is left behind,” the congressman said.

The Philippines and the United States agreed to temporarily host a limited number of Afghan nationals awaiting resettlement in the US, the Foreign Affairs department announced earlier this week. — Kenneth Christiane L. Basilio

PDEA seizes P3.4-M drugs in Lanao

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

COTABATO CITY — Agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) seized P3.4 million worth of crystal meth from a suspected dealer during an entrapment operation in Malabang, Lanao del Sur on Wednesday.

The operation led to the arrest of the 40-year-old suspect based on tips from Maranao informants,

Gil Cesario P. Castro, director of PDEA-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, told reporters on Thursday.

PDEA agents and operatives from different police units under the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region detained the suspect, who was turning over half-a-kilo of the illegal drugs during a clandestine operation on Wednesday in a secluded area in Bacayawan village in Malabang.

The suspect, who was placed under the custody of PDEA-Bangsamoro Region, will be charged with drug trafficking. — John Felix M. Unson

SC ruling on plebiscite hailed

PHILSTAR FILE PHOTO

COTABATO CITY — A large bloc of political leaders in the Bangsamoro Region on Thursday welcomed a Supreme Court (SC) ruling that barred a plebiscite for the creation of three new towns in Maguindanao del Norte for being illegal.

The tribunal earlier ordered the Commission on Elections to do away with the plebiscite next month as part of the process to create the Datu Sinsuat Balabaran, Sheik Abas Hamza and Nuling municipalities based on three separate measures passed by the 80-member Bangsamoro Parliament.

Two of the three bills aim to establish the Datu Sinsuat Balabaran and Sheik Abas Hamza towns that will cover areas inside Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte. The third bill sets up Nuling town out of several villages in Sultan Kudarat in the same province.

Local officials questioned before the High Court the plebiscites involving only voters in villages to be covered by the three proposed municipalities.

“The court ruled that qualified voters from both the new and mother municipalities should be included in the plebiscites,” the Supreme Court’s Public Information Office announced on Tuesday. — John Felix M. Unson

23 seamen safe after Houthi attack

DMW FACEBOOK PAGE

THE DEPARTMENT of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Thursday said the 23 Filipino seamen aboard the MV Sounion are “safe and sound” after a Houthi attack in the Red Sea on Aug. 21.

At a virtual briefing on Thursday, DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac said the 25-crew ship was still awaiting rescue from a naval group he did not name.

The 23 Filipinos will be repatriated after their rescue on Thursday. The other two crew members are Russians, including its captain.

The Greek-owned ship was bombed thrice, causing damage to its engine while it was en route to the Suez Canal in Africa. — Chloe Mari A. Hufana

MVP rewards Paris Olympic Games medalists, vows LA2028 support

FROM ONE MVP to another | Double Olympic Gold medalist Carlos Yulo meets with PLDT and Smart Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and MVPSF Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan at the PLDT headquarters in Makati City.

PLDT, Inc. (PLDT) and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) have given Filipino Olympians Carlos Yulo, Nesthy Petecio, and Aira Villegas (and their respective coaches and staff) a total of ₱ 21 million as reward for earning the Philippines its biggest number of medals at the recently concluded Olympic Games Paris 2024.

“The glory and pride that Carlos, Nesthy, and Aira brought to our country with the medals they’ve won in Paris through their training, grit and effort are priceless indeed. We are very proud of them, and we hope to see them compete once again in Los Angeles in 2028 which we will continue to support fully,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan, who is also Chairman emeritus of the MVP Sports Foundation (MVPSF).

The MVP Group will reward two-time gold medalist Mr. Yulo with ₱10 million, bronze medalist Ms. Petecio will take home ₱2 million, while Ms. Villegas, who bagged a bronze medal in her Olympic debut, will also take home ₱2 million. The Group will also give an additional 50% of these total athletes rewards to their respective coaches. In Paris 2024, the MVPSF supported 16 out of 22 Olympians through their national sports associations (NSAs).

“The MVPSF will continue to support Filipino athletes in their quest for gold in the Olympics. We’ve seen it happen with Hidilyn Diaz in Tokyo 2020 and now, we’ve seen it happen again with Yulo in Paris 2024. We hope that this will inspire more Filipino athletes to strive for their Olympic dreams in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, as well as encourage our partners in both the private and public sectors to continue supporting our young heroes,” said MVPSF President Alfred S. Panlilio.

Staunch supporters of sports development, PLDT and Smart together with the MVPSF, have launched many initiatives to help discover, develop, and train Filipino athletes and teams from the grassroots to collegiate, amateur, and professional levels. From basketball to boxing to esports and many others, the MVPSF and the MVP Group have been investing in and empowering 20 National Sports Agencies, backing hundreds of athletes, and contributing to nation-building through sports development, fueling the Filipino dream of producing more Olympic medals for the Philippines.

Alex Eala advances to final of US Open qualifier

ALEX EALA — USOPEN.ORG

THIRD time’s the charm?

Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala will have a chance to claim a historic main draw ticket for the third straight Grand Slam tourney after barging into the final round of the US Open women’s singles qualifying draw Wednesday in New York.

Ms. Eala, 19, defied the odds by shocking No. 15 seed and Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) No. 99 Nuria Parrizas Diaz of Spain with a 7-5, 7-5 masterclass in the second round of the tough qualifiers.

The WTA No. 148 Ms. Eala drew confidence from a steely resolve in Round 1, shrugging her US Open pro jitters by besting Maddison Inglis, WTA No. 180, of Australia with a 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 win.

Up against an even grizzled foe in the 33-year-old Ms. Diaz, who had back-to-back crowns in the International Tennis Federation  W100 events before trooping to New York, Ms. Eala embraced the challenge and showcased her capability at a young age once more.

In both sets, Ms. Eala went toe-to-toe against Ms. Diaz with no inch of separation and she rose to the top to pocket the win in one hour and 48 minutes.

A pair of 2-0 enders propelled Ms. Eala ahead from similar 5-5 deadlocks in both sets to slam the door on any rubber match bid of Ms. Diaz.

Before the US Open, Ms. Eala also came close to becoming the first Filipina player in any major tourney main draw only to lose in the finals of the French Open and Wimbledon qualifiers this year.

She absorbed a 6-4, 6(3)-7, 4-6 loss against Argentina’s Julia Riera in the Roland Garros final and then took a  6(3)-7, 5-7 defeat against New Zealand’s Lulu Sun in the Wimbledon finale.

Now, she’s out to finally go over the hump and standing in the way for that elusive feat is Romania’s Elena-Gabriela Ruse, a Grand Slam veteran with a career-high WTA ranking at No. 51.

Ms. Ruse, 26 and current WTA No. 123, drubbed Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic, 6-2, 6-2, and China’s Ma Ye-Xin, 6-3, 6-3, in the first two rounds. — John Bryan Ulanday

UE shocks UST to win Mobile Legends: Bang Bang crown

UE BEATS UST in Moblie Legents: Bang Bang finals. — UAAP/NICOLE HERNANDEZ & YVAN MARTINEZ

UNIVERSITY of the East (UE)stunned unbeaten University of Santo Tomas (UST) to capture the Mobile Legends; Bang Bang crown in the inaugural UAAP Esports Tournament on Wednesday night at the Hyunda Hall in Arete Ateneo.

Coming into the playoffs as the bottom-ranked squad, the Zenith Warriors capped a Cinderella run with a shocking sweep of the Teletigers, 2-0, in the short best-of-three duel.

UE bowed to Santo Tomas in the elimination rounds but saved it best for last with playing coach Arohn Jen Cabigting leading the way.

John Lawrence Chavez was named the Chowking Kakaibang Player of the Tournament as Ariel Dolar, John Lawrence Chavez, Ryan-Ver Federizo, John Zel Bartolo and Elijah Vilaray also played instrumental under the watch of Jon Benedict Sampang.

Semifinalists Far Eastern University and National University were awarded with bronze medals.

UE joined Ateneo de Manila University (NBA2K24), represented by Paolo Medina, and De La Salle University (Valorant) as first-ever champions of the three online games in the UAAP Esports, a demonstration sport for UAAP Season 87 that’s officially firing off on Sept. 7.

Santo Tomas went home with a bronze in NBA 2K24 and two silver medals after also being finalist in Valorant. — John Bryan Ulanday

Obiena shares third place in Switzerland tournament

EJ OBIENA — REUTERS

EJ OBIENA showed his dedication to capture that elusive medal he failed to win in the last two Olympic editions after finishing tied for third in the Athletissima Lausanne Wanda Diamond League in Switzerland Wednesday night.

Mr. Obiena cleared 5.82 meters in sharing third with Norwegian Sondre Guttormsen and Aussie Kurtis Marschall in the event that came just a few weeks after the Paris Games.

Swedish titan Armand Duplantis expectedly took the gold in 6.15m while American Sam Kendricks snatched the silver with a 5.92m, similar to what they did in the French capital where they finished first and second.

Mr. Obiena was doing all he can to achieve in the 2028 LA Games what he couldn’t accomplish in the last two editions in Tokyo in 2021 and in the French capital just recently.

In Tokyo, Mr. Obiena was 11th and came close to snatching a podium finish in Paris where eventually wound up fourth.

Now he’s working with all his might to finally hit it big in Los Angeles. — Joey Villar