Coronavirus Lockdown: 91% of Pinoys Want to Wear Face Masks, The Return of Cruise Tourism, and More!

More news about how the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines is being handled by the public and the government.

Bivalent vaccines have been ordered by the DOH but have been delayed. Now the DOH is seeking legal remedies to address the delay. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/22/23/doh-eyes-legal-remedies-for-covax-bivalent-donation

The Department of Health is looking at legal remedies to enter into an agreement with COVAX facility regarding the delivery of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines.

According to DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire, immunity from liability and indemnification clauses are required by the United Nations-backed international vaccine-sharing scheme. 

These conditions are declared in the country's state of calamity for COVID-19, which expired on December 31.

In a press briefing Tuesday, Vergeire said the DOH had coordinated with the Office of the President through the Office of the Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs, Department of Justice and Office of the Solicitor General.

"We have had several meetings for this past week so that we can be able to find that meeting point kung ano 'yung puwedeng maging option because wala nga tayong pinagbabasehan na mga naka-state sa agreements as to immunity from liability and indemnification," she told reporters.

This has resulted in the delay of the arrival of bivalent vaccines despite several countries already signifying their intention to donate the new jabs, which target the globally dominant omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.

“We had a meeting with COVAX and GAVI and still expressed our interest na tayo ay willing to receive as long as bigyan lang tayo ng panahon para ayusin ang legal remedies na puwede sa atin so we can enter into specific contracts na nire-require ng COVAX facility," Vergeire said.

The DOH previously announced it was expecting over a million doses of the new vaccines to arrive in the country this month. Those belonging to the vulnerable population like healthcare workers and senior citizens are prioritized to receive the first batch of bivalent jabs.

But even if more doses of the new vaccines eventually make it to the Philippines, Vergeire explained they would only be given to those who have received the primary series of a monovalent vaccine.

How many of those vaccine will go to waste because too many people don't want to be vaccinated? 

COVID cases are up slightly but hospitalization rates remain low because not many are critical or severe cases. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198057

The 19 percent increase in Covid-19 cases in the recent week should not be a cause for alarm, a health expert said Thursday.

In a televised public briefing, infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvaña said the healthcare utilization rate, which remains 20 percent nationwide, is more important than the number of new infections as it indicates the country’s capability to admit severe and critical cases.   

Earlier, the Department of Health reported daily infections increased to 167 in the recent week (March 13 to 19) from last week’s 140 infections from Mar 5 to 12.

It also reported 1,171 new cases and 63 verified deaths for the recent week.

“I don’t think it’s a cause for alarm, iyong number of cases, kasi titingnan naman natin araw-araw (the number of cases, what we’re looking at is daily) it’s still below 200 per day, and even the active cases have been below 10,000 for the longest time now,” he said.

As for the mask mandate, Salvaña clarified that it is voluntary except in hospitals and public transport where physical distancing is not observed.

“In hospitals, we’re not just looking at Covid but also flu and other respiratory illnesses where use of masks can help,” he said.

Salvaña also noted that Filipinos are more selective and smarter regarding facemask wearing as they get used to increased mobility.

“In fact, more people are going out right now and the cases will remain low – so, I think slowly Covid is becoming endemic." 

Yes everyone knows COVID is becoming endemic and will never be eradicated. It will also continue to have a low death rate unless combined with comorbidites like obesity and other diseases. The DOH confirmed this assessment by Dr. Edsel Salvaña.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1748945/covid-19-cases-still-going-up-but-hospital-admissions-low

Detected COVID-19 cases continue to go up although hospital admissions remain low, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday.

In the past week, there were 185 COVID-19 cases reported daily, 11 percent higher compared to the 167 daily cases reported in the week before.

Of the 1,298 new confirmed infections last week, 10 were in serious or critical condition.

According to the DOH COVID-19 bulletin, 307 out of the nearly 3,000 admitted COVID-19 patients were in severe or critical condition.

The confined patients comprised around 34 percent of 8,626 individuals still infected with the virus as of March 26.

The healthcare utilization rate, however, remains at a safe level, with 14 percent of COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) beds and 16.5 percent of non-ICU beds occupied.

The DOH also confirmed an additional 60 deaths due to the coronavirus though most of them occurred months ago.

This brought the country’s official COVID-19 death toll to 66,342 out of about four million confirmed cases since the pandemic began three years ago.

Last week, the country recorded its biggest hike in infections in recent weeks although a health expert said it was likely due to a backlog in cases.

It would appear that there is no real increase in cases but that the DOH is only just now releasing old data. 

Cruise tourism is set to return to Ilocos Norte.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198053

Travel operators can look forward to welcoming more visitors in Ilocos Norte province as the Department of Tourism (DOT) started talks with cruise line operators to once again consider stopping by this northern gateway of Luzon.

"Talks are underway between cruise line operators and the DOT for their return at the ports of Currimao and a nearby private seaport of Omnico Resources Inc. in Badoc, Ilocos Norte,” said Xavier Ruiz, officer-in-charge of the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office.

For 2023, the DOT is expecting a total of 139 port calls at 46 destinations in the country. The figure is higher than the 102 port calls in 2019.

In pre-pandemic times, cruise tourism emerged as a sunrise industry in Ilocos Region as the Ilocos Norte ports became major ports of calls for international cruise ships.

Earlier this year, the Silversea Cruises's Silver Spirit, carrying about 500 passengers, docked at the Salomague Port in Cabugao town, Ilocos Sur province. It was the first international cruise ship that arrived at the Ilocos port in three years since the pandemic began.

As part of the government’s economic recovery plans, both the Salomague port in Ilocos Sur and the Currimao port in Ilocos Norte were upgraded in 2021 to increase cruise calls in the region, which is strategically located near the popular beaches and heritage sites of the Ilocos Region.

With the continuing expansion of the Vigan Airport and the Laoag International Airport, as well as the road widening projects, local authorities expressed confidence that the improved port will entice more visitors and help spur economic recovery in the region.

Slowly but surely the tourism industry is recovering. 

Guimaras' Mango Festival will return after a three year hiatus due to the pandemic. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/3/27/guimaras-prepares-for-return-of-manggahan-festival

The island-province of Guimaras is preparing for the face-to-face comeback of the festival that highlights its most abundant and well-loved resource – the mango.

The provincial government under Gov. JC Rahman Nava announced the return of the Manggahan Festival after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

The 2023 edition is the first full-blast celebration in three years.  The past two iterations were scaled down and had only minor activities such as the agri-trade fair.

In 2022, the provincial government limited visitors of the Manggahan Festival to residents of Western Visayas region. Non-residents of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental as well as the highly urbanized cities of Iloilo and Bacolod were not allowed as Guimaras had strict protocols for visitors entering the island-province.

This year will have a dance cultural contest among the five towns – Buenavista, Jordan, Nueva Valencia, San Lorenzo, and Sibunag – depicting the abundance of mangoes and the rich fishing community in the island-province.

This was the major event that was not held during the past three years of the pandemic.

Another in a long line of events returning after the lockdown.

A survey shows that just 10% of Pinoys do not approve of face masks.

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/865229/91-of-pinoys-approve-of-voluntary-wearing-of-face-masks-but-still-prefer-to-use-them-outdoors/story/

A large majority of adult Filipinos approve of the executive order allowing voluntary wearing of face masks, but most of them prefer to continue wearing masks, according to the results of the Fourth Quarter 2022 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey. 

Among adult Filipinos, 91% approve of the directive issued on Oct. 28, 2022 by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The directive refers to Executive Order No. 7, "Allowing voluntary wearing of face masks in indoor and outdoor settings, reiterating the continued implementation of minimum public health standards during the State of Public Health Emergency relative to the COVID-19 Pandemic."

Meanwhile, 54% say they will always use a face mask when leaving the house.

On Total Filipino Household heads, 91% agree with the voluntary wearing of face masks for children in face-to-face classes.

According to the data on Total Households with children attending face-to-face classes, 81% or 4 of 5 households say they will always make their child wear a face mask when going to school. Below is the breakdown of respondents' reactions.

Despite face mask offering little to no protection from COVID or any other virus the majority of the population wants to continue to keep wearing them. But another survey shows that 69% of the unvaccinated wish to remain unvaccinated.  Strange and conflicting opinions indeed.

41% of All Filipino Families Lack Access to Clean Water

March 22nd was World Water Day which is an annual United Nations observance to highlight the importance of fresh water. In the Philippines almost half of all families lack access to fresh water. Let's take a look at some statistics compiled by National Water Resource Board executive director Dr. Sevillo David Jr.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/20/23/11-million-filipino-families-lack-access-to-clean-water-nwrb

Some 11 million families lack access to clean water in the Philippines, an official said on Monday. 

These families are forced to rely on "unprotected" deep wells, springs, rivers, lakes and rainwater, said National Water Resource Board executive director Dr. Sevillo David Jr.

(Almost 11 million families do not have access to clean water yet. The water source for 11 million families is almost unsafe.)

The Philippines is home to some 26.3 million families, according to 2020 government data.  

Lack of sanitation has also forced some families to defecate in the open, risking water contamination and diseases, David said. 

11 million out of 26.3 million is 41%!!!  Do these people pay taxes? Those taxes should go to projects like providing fresh water but they have been left out in the cold by the government which they are forced to support. Open defecation does indeed taint the water supply and I have gone through the stats showing how many people die each year from diarrhea due to tainted water. One wonders how Filipinos survived for thousands of years before the Spanish came. Did Lapulapu take a dump near his water source?  

Water supply also often becomes an issue during the dry season, he noted.

(We have enough water supply for now. But the PAGASA says El Niño is looming.) 

El Niño is characterized by below-normal rainfall conditions, which could lead to dry spells and droughts in some areas of the country, according to the state weather forecaster. 

(We need to prepare for this as it could affect our water supply, particularly in our farms.)

Asked what the government is doing to solve water issues, David cited President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos' order to create a water resource management office.

(This office will be in charge of coordinating various government agencies which have water programs and activities. More than 13 agencies have a role or have a program on water and our President wants to have coordination to provide security and relief to the needs of our countrymen.)

David's statement comes days before World Water Day, celebrated every March 22 to raise awareness on the water and sanitation crisis. 

Of course the government's answer is more bureaucracy.  Let's take a look though. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/01/23/marcos-oks-new-water-resource-management-office

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. has approved the creation of an office that will manage water resources and ensure sufficient supply, Malacañang said on Wednesday. 

Marcos suggested that the new Water Resource Management Office's (WRMO) first task "should be reducing the country’s reliance on groundwater and deep wells, as well as managing surface water supply," the Presidential Communications Office said. 

"We have sufficient... there’s enough water in the Philippines hindi lang natin ginagamit, tinatapon natin,” Marcos said.

(It's not being used, we're wasting it.)

The new body will also ensure that other agencies would follow a plan for waste management. 

"That’s why we have to strengthen the mandate of the Water Management Office. We have to bring them (agencies) together so that they are all following the overall plan,” Marcos said. 

"This new Water Management Office, it has to be cohesive in the sense that kailangan ‘yung recommendation ng management office sinusundan," he added. 

(The recommendation of the management office should be followed.)

Who is distributing the water now? Who is not following the overall plan now? This is all malarky. Marcos wants to create another bureaucracy which won't do anything except cost the taxpayers more money and be another conduit for corruption. But the question remains. How did Filipinos survive on clean water before the Europeans came and why can't they do that now? Almost half of all Philippine families do not have access to clean water and the government's response is to create another bureaucracy? Ridiculous!

Insurgency: Anti-Communist War Come to an End

Philippine  Army Chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. is confident that ongoing intel operations will lead to the dismantling of all communist guerrilla fronts nationwide. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1197914

Philippine Army (PA) chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. on Wednesday expressed confidence that ongoing intelligence driven operations will lead to the complete dismantling of all remaining communist guerrilla fronts in the country.

This as the PA works tirelessly to achieve its organizational gains and operational milestones, he added.

"Most significant of these are in the intelligence driven military operations against communist and local terrorist groups where we see the imminent complete dismantling of the remaining guerrilla fronts," Brawner said in his speech during the PA's 126th founding anniversary at its headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Metro Manila.

The military earlier said that out of the 89 New People's Army guerrilla fronts recorded in 2016, only 23 or 24 are left with only five still capable of conducting any actions.

He added that these "successes" are shared with their stakeholders whose solid cooperation has magnified the impact of PA's whole-of-nation approach against these security threats.

"This in turn has encouraged the voluntary surrender of former rebels and their eventual reintegration into mainstream society," Brawner said.

Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. claims only five fronts reman which are capable of conducting any actions. One of those 5 must be in Masbate because the action has been ramped up in recent days. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198107

The Department of National Defense (DND) on Friday condemned the latest string of atrocities committed by New People's Army (NPA) insurgents in Masbate, which killed and injured government troops and civilians early this week.

"The DND vehemently condemns the recent series of violent acts perpetrated by the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) that inflicted injuries on our uniformed personnel and innocent civilians, especially children, in the towns of Placer and Kawayan in Masbate," Defense spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a statement.

These atrocities include the use and detonation of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) near schools and in public areas, he added.

By using these weapons indiscriminately, Andolong said, the Reds have placed the public in harm's way.

"Their utter lack of conscience truly shows that they are desperate in their vain efforts to project a false facade of relevance and strength," he said.

Andolong also enjoined all Filipinos to come together as a nation and people to collectively protect all communities, as well as reject and denounce the "wilting CTG and their dwindling supporters."

He added that the DND and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) are committed to their campaign to rid the country of the scourge of these lawless elements.

Two soldiers and a minor were hurt after communist rebels detonated an IED near a public elementary school in Barangay Locso-on in Placer on March 22, triggering a clash.

A soldier was also killed in a clash with 12 NPA fighters in Barangay Villahermosa, Kawayan, Masbate on March 20.

One soldier dead and two others wounded. That sounds very active. There is also an active front in Maguindano. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198008

A soldier was killed while his companion and a civilian were wounded following a drive-by shooting by gunmen on board a minivan in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao del Sur province on Wednesday morning.

Brig. Gen. Oriel Pangcog, the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade commander, said the victims were manning a checkpoint in Barangay Libutan when attacked around 9 a.m.

He identified the slain soldier as Private First Class (PFC) Jorey Abibas of Libungan town, North Cotabato province; and the wounded as PFC Jonathan Nacion of Pigcawayan town, also in North Cotabato.

A civilian identified by police as Asidza Bayao was hit by stray bullets.

The two soldiers both belong to the Army’s 23rd Mechanized Company of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Battalion.

“It was a terroristic attack. The suspects on board a heavily tinted minivan slowed down while passing by the checkpoint but suddenly pulled their rifles and fired at our troops,” Pangcog said in a radio interview.

Pangcog said the attackers are believed to be members of the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), in retaliation to the recent death of BIFF’s Abdulkarem Lumbatan Hasim alias “Commander Jacket.”

Hasim was killed with his companion, Mahmod Lumbatan, during a law enforcement operation on Feb. 18 at a bus terminal in Tacurong City, Sultan Kudarat province.

Colonel Roel Sermese, Maguindanao police director, agreed that the BIFF was likely behind the attack.

Citing a police investigation report, Sermese said the attackers were led by Tong Aban Amang, a BIFF-sub leader under Commander Jacket.

Well thats the BIFF and not an NPA front but the danger remains the same. The Isalmic insurgency is not dead yet. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198088

A military operation that entered its second day on Thursday resulted in the deaths of at least two suspected Dawlah Islamiya (DI) extremists, while four others were injured in an ongoing air and ground assault on the border of Maguindanao Sur and North Cotabato provinces.

Brigadier Gen. Donald Gumiran, commander of the Army's 602nd Infantry Brigade (602Bde), said the government forces were pursuing Almoben Sibud, a DI group subleader, along with about 30 armed followers responsible for bombings in the area.

“Our specially trained ground troops are in the area, hopefully circling our targets,” Gumiran said, adding that the operation was coordinated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

The 602Bde artillery unit utilized its recently acquired 155-mm Autonomous Truck Mounted howitzer System (ATMOS) for the first time during the operation.

A DI member was arrested and is currently undergoing interrogation. He was identified as Mohammad Agbas of Barangay Dungguan, Datu Montawal town, and was found with a .45-caliber pistol and ammunition.

About 700 people from the village of Dungguan and surrounding areas have fled to safer grounds following the launch of the military operation.

In Samar and the Negros active NPA guerrilla fronts remain which is why the AFP is adding more troops.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1198112

The country's military chief said the transfer of additional troops to the Visayas who would be tasked to neutralize the remaining communist insurgents will be completed soon.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff Gen. Andres Centino made this comment following his visit to the Visayas Command headquartered in Camp Lapu-Lapu, City Cebu on Thursday.

“We’re here to perform the crucial task of seeing that the morale of our troops is at its highest, to talk and know that all is well and that you’ve been given specific tasks about our campaign,” Centino said.

He also added the AFP is nearing completion of the transfer of additional forces in the Visayas and thanked the Philippine Navy and the Philippine Air Force for helping in the troop movements.

The shift in forces was necessary to further intensify the military campaign against the communist terrorist group, especially in Samar and Negros provinces.

But how long until the remaining communist insurgents in the Visayas will actually be neutralized? Soon and very soon according to President Marcos who says the communist insurgency has reached the end stage. 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/3/22/marcos-to-soldiers-be-peacemakers-as-anti-communist-war-comes-to-an-end

Marcos encouraged the soldiers to serve as "peacemakers" and lead a "whole-of-nation" approach in the more challenging mission of addressing the root causes of insurgency.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said he is now seeing the end of the government's half-a-century war with communist rebels and that the country's soldiers must now take on a new role to ensure that no one can sow fear in the country.

Marcos said this as he participated in the 126th anniversary of the Philippine Army in Taguig City on Wednesday, March 22.

In his speech, the President said that after the soldiers' sacrifices to ensure the country's internal security, the government's 50-year war with the rebels would soon end.

"We have come to a point in our country's history when a half-a-century's fight with insurgents is coming to an end," he said.

"This would not only bring peace to our nation but would also help development and improve the lives of every Filipino," he added.

With the "declining numbers" of the communist terrorist group, President Marcos said the government must now recalibrate its military approach.

"As our ground troops, you have done the difficult part of clearing our communities of internal security threats. You must now continue being the catalyst for their surrender and disarmament," he said.

Marcos encouraged the soldiers to serve as "peacemakers" and lead a "whole-of-nation" approach in the more challenging mission of addressing the root causes of insurgency.

"Work with the national government agencies, the civil society groups, the private sector, and the communities themselves in keeping the peace. It is a critical task as it is only through achieving internal security that we will be able to foster development and address equally important security concerns," he said.

"It now behooves upon you to ensure that these areas will not fall onto the hands of those who intend to sow fear, discontent, and terror," he added.

Marcos had previously said the AFP must become peacemakers but now he says the communist insurgency is coming to an end. He also says their numbers are declining even while the AFP says they are trying to stop recruitment efforts. It could be that the insurgency has reached its end game but every President has said that so the proper response is to wait and see. 

Hi, my name is...34

So many people causing trouble in the Philippines. I guess this is basically a crime blotter but the crimes are extreme in one way or another. 

Hi, my name is Ariel Limas. On March 1st Sophia Bual, who is ten years old, was walking home from school. After looking around to make sure no one saw me, I quickly snatched her. Her grandfather initially thought his son, her father, was the perpetrator because of a scratch on his arm. But even so why would he think that? They must not have a good home life. Anyway remorse got the better of me and I confessed. Then I led the authorities to the place where I wrapped her in a bag and tossed her into a river. Her remains were hardly recognizable. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1196635

The suspect behind the alleged rape-slay of a 10-year-old girl has surrendered to the police in Claveria town, Misamis Oriental after the victim's cadaver was found Saturday dawn.

In a statement, the Claveria Municipal Police Station identified the suspect as Ariel Limas, 28, married and a resident of Sitio Minantang, in the same town.

The police said he admitted to the alleged rape-slay of Sophia Bual, who went missing on March 1.

Initial police investigation showed that the victim was on her way home from school when the suspect snatched her.

The family of the victim sought help from the police and the community, including the local government.

The victim's grandfather, a retired policeman, initially thought that the suspect's father was a person of interest due to a scratch they found on him.

The suspect, however, eventually confessed to the crime and led authorities to the location of the victim.

At the location in Sitio Ban-Ban, Barangay Ane-I, investigators retrieved the cadaver of the victim, who was placed in a sack and submerged in a creek, using rocks to weigh the body down.

The Regional Forensic Unit 10 brought the cadaver to this city subject for autopsy.

Kenneth Bual, the victim's father, thanked the local government, the police, and the community for their help.

"I could hardly recognize my daughter (after the retrieval of her cadaver). I will leave it to God to deal with the one who did this. I hope you will regret what you did to my daughter," the victim's father said.

Hi, my name is Dagul. I asked my wife out for a date on Valentine's Day but instead she called the cops and had me arrested. She said I had threatened her and out children that I would dismember them. She also said she was tired of years of abuse. At the police station I got down on my knees to beg forgiveness but she ignored me. 

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1953633/cebu/local-news/valentines-day-date-turns-into-a-nightmare-after-husband-lands-in-jail

A VALENTINE’S Day date turned into a nightmare when a 34-year-old man was arrested by police at his wife's request at 10 a.m. Tuesday, February 14, in Barangay Ermita, Cebu City.

The suspect only identified as Dagul, a businessman, was not able to date his wife because he was imprisoned.

Major Kenneth Albotra, chief of Carbon Police Station, said in an interview with SunStar Cebu that the charges have already been filed against the suspect at the Women and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD) on Wednesday afternoon, February 15.

Corporal Sandra Villabas, who is assigned at the WCPD of Carbon Police Station, said that the suspect had frequently threatened to kill his wife and their children, especially when he was high on drugs.

On Monday, February 13, Dagul once more threatened his family.

(He would reportedly dismember his wife and kids, who were scared.)

It was learned that the wife has been suffering from abuse for several years.

The wife, who requested for anonymity, immediately called the police and requested for assistance out of concern that her husband would keep his word.

Dagul begged his wife for forgiveness while he was on his knees at the police station, but she ignored him.

Hi, my name is "Mia" and I am a 19 year old woman living in a shed. Why do I live in a shed? Because I have paranoid schizophrenia and this is the only way my parents could handle me. When I was 16 I started skipping school. Then I started self-harming and even hit my mom as she cooked. It's not so bad I guess. There is a small hole where my parents hand me food and even run a hose so I can bathe. They even cut my nails when I stuck my hands out. 

My parents really wanted to get me help but not even the DSWD would give them assistance. But the Baguio General Hospital found out about my case and they took me in and gave me the help I needed. Now I no longer live in a shed.  

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/lifestyle/healthandwellness/862032/why-is-a-19-year-old-woman-in-la-union-locked-up-in-a-small-hut-by-her-family/story/

A 19-year-old woman in La Union has been locked up in a small hut for over a year.

As seen in the latest episode of "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho," the hut has no door, is barely enough for one person, and only has small hole that allow "Mia" to put her hands out.

According to her mother, Delia, they used to live in Benguet. There, she noticed a change in her daughter's behavior when "Mia" turned 16. She was eventually diagnosed with Paranoid Schizophrenia.

("She started skipping school. She couldn't sleep, she'd keep pacing around. She was no longer conscious of what she was doing. She started hurting herself. When I'd cook, she'd hit me as well.")

"Mia" would also grab a knife in the kitchen, her grandmother Rosing said. Fearing that they would get hurt, they had no choice but to bring "Mia" to Bargulin, La Union and lock her up.

Since then, Mia's aunt, Nora had been taking care of her.

("It pains me to see her in such a state, but we had no other choice.")

To provide for her needs, Mia's family would just hand things over through the small hole.

It is also through these holes that they cut Mia's nails and hand her a hose so she could bathe.

Delia said she and her husband Berting want to help their daughter get better. They have reached out to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, but to no avail.

("I can't bear to see her suffer. I want her to get better because she has an entire future ahead of her. I want to be the one to care for her, but I can't.")

Upon learning about the condition of "Mia," the Baguio General Hospital volunteered to rescue and give her the medication and guidance she needs.

("She'll be given the necessary medication and therapy. She'll be admitted for two weeks, and if we see enough progress, she can be discharged. ")

Fortunately, "Mia" was calm enough to go with the rescuers. This also allowed her loved ones to see her again for the first time after one year and three months.

("I've waited for this moment for so long. I'm so happy that "Mia" is finally getting the medical treatment she needs. I hope she gets better. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.")

According to the National Center for Mental Health, based on the US data, about 1% of the general population has schizophrenia, and that is 1 out of 100.

NCMH reminded that those with mental conditions should get proper medical treatment despite their state.

("For her to get better, she needs to be checked on by a psychiatrist. A person locked up would feel isolated, neglected, and rejected. For a person's overall well-being, they need to have enough sun exposure. They need to be able to step out and interact with others."

The agency added that they are in the "process of developing more hospitals" in accordance with the Mental Health Act.

Hi, my name is Aldren Balibad. My uncle agreed I could illegally hook up my house to his electricity. However when I failed to pay he cut me off! That really angered me. In fact it added fuel to the fire which was already burning hotly. in retaliation I recruited two neighbors who also had beef with my uncle and we concocted a plan to snuff him out. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/491772/driven-by-anger-nephew-2-neighbors-plan-kill-habal-habal-driver-in-carmen-town-police

A nephew’s anger over his uncle for cutting electric power to his house may have been the trigger that led to the killing last March 2 of the uncle, a motorcycle-for-hire driver, in Barangay Ipil in Carmen town in northern Cebu.

Aldren Balibad, 23, then allegedly planned the killing with his two neighbors, Jemros Malbago, 22, and Mario Ramil Maningo, 51, who allegedly had also not been in good terms with Balibad’s uncle, Gilbert Basan.

Police Major Eric Gingoyon, chief of Carmen Police Station, said that their anger towards Basan blinded them of the fact that the victim had five children to take care of.

(They did not even consider that the victim has five children, his wife is abroad, and he was the one looking after the children. They were not able to think of that because of their anger towards the victim.)

Basan’s wife is an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) based in Saudi Arabia as a domestic helper. That is why Basan was the one who took care of their children.

Gingoyon said that when investigators started to gather information from the neighbors of the victim, Balibad was the first to be questioned.

He allegedly at first showed concern and regret for the tragic loss of his uncle.

But after the investigators gathered more information, they found out that Balibad and the victim were not in good terms and had previous arguments.

When the investigators went back to the nephew, Balibad, to ask him about this, Balibad,  eventually admitted that he, together with two others, was responsible for the crime.

They were arrested around 3 p.m. on Friday, March 3, in Barangay Ipil.

(We established the fact that the victim had argued with his nephew, Aldren. They had a falling out because Aldren connected with the electric power of his uncle’s house, and when Aldren failed to pay, the uncle cut the connection in the last week or third week of February.) 

Gingoyon said that this could have been the reason for Balibad to commit the crime against his uncle.

The police chief also said that Malbago was the one who allegedly held and stabbed the victim.

Maningo served as the lookout and the one who informed the two that Basan was coming in the area at that time.

Gingoyon said that Maningo and Basan had also allegedly had previous arguments with the victim. 

However, the police chief said he did not specifically know what caused these arguments.

He also said that the three men might have allegedly planned the killing a few days ago.

Police later recovered a 14-inch slaughter knife, which could be the murder weapon, and the blue sling bag of the victim containing P34,820, a brown wallet, eyeglasses, assorted IDs, assorted keys, and other documents.

The sling bag was recovered below a cliff while the knife was recovered 50 meters away from the bag.

The cliff where the sling bag and knife were found was about a kilometer away from the crime scene.

Malbago reportedly was the one who threw these items there after committing the crime.

Carmen police are set to file murder complaints against the three on Monday, March 6. The three suspects were detained at the Carmen Police Station pending the filing of charges.

Hi, my name is Gregorio Bores. In a tragic piece of irony I got run over by my own truck. What happened is I started the truck and it suddenly began to move. So, I freaked and I jumped out. It was slippery out there and of course I fell. The last thing I saw was a huge wheel just before it crushed my skull. Next time I would simply hit the breaks and put it in park. But there won't be a next time. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/492806/driver-killed-by-own-truck-in-cebu-city

A truck driver was killed when he was ran over by his own truck on Friday dawn, March 10, 2023, in Sitio Tagutongan, Barangay Suba, Cebu City.

Police Staff Sergeant Leigh Vincent Gonzalve, investigator of the accident in a report, identified the driver as Gregorio Bores, 56 years old, from Barangay San Roque, Cebu City. He was driving a truck carrying fish for transport.

According to Gonzalve, witnesses told him that the victim jumped from his truck when it suddenly moved after starting the engine.  He believes the gear was engaged in first gear when he turned on the ignition, which made the truck run upon starting. 

(I think he got rattled, so he jumped. Then he fell because it was slippery at that part of the road. Unfortunately, his head got ran over by the truck’s tire.) 

The wayward truck also hit a motorcycle, an e-bike, and a fence of a house.

Hi, my name is Remart Rebucas.  I was attending my Lola's birthday party when all of a sudden I was shot dead! What a birthday present for her. It's a birthday she will never forget. 

https://digicastnegros.com/victim-gunned-down-at-grandmas-party/

A man who was attending the birthday party of his grandmother at his residence in Balansag Bobong, Brgy. Minapasok, Calatrava, Negros Occidental, on Saturday, November 5, was shot to death.

The fatality was identified as Remart Rebucas, 26.

Police said the suspect arrived at the birthday celebration of the victim’s grandmother when he shot Rebucas on the chest.

He died instantly.

The suspect identified by the police as 27-year-old Junjun Aligioho fled after the shooting, while the victim was brought to Alfredo Marañon District Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Hi, my name is Henry Paul Bombate. I am a fish vendor but just sixth months ago I was doing time in jail for drugs. One night I went out and I was ambushed. They took money out of Cash account and then they hogtied me, blindfolded me, and shot me to death. There have been other former drug offenders who have suffered the same fate. 

https://www.panaynews.net/fish-vendor-hogtied-blindfolded-shot-to-death/

A dead fish vendor was found hogtied and blindfolded in an empty lot at Simon Village, Purok Guanzon, Barangay Mansilingan around 7:20 a.m. yesterday.

The 22-year-old Henry Paul Bombate was a resident of Sitio Sibucao, Barangay Banago. He had four gunshot wounds to his head and three to his chest.

He was likely killed elsewhere, according to Police Station 7 commander, Police Major Elmer Bonilla, noting that no spent bullet shells were recovered in the area.

Bombate was arrested in 2019 for a drug-related charge and was freed just six months ago.

According to his family, Bombate left their house on Thursday and failed to return that night.

They also claimed that the victim’s GCash account made an unauthorized cash out of P3,900.

Investigation is ongoing.

The killing  of Bombate took place two days after two severed human hands were found in a plastic ice cream container in Purok Kagaykay, Barangay 2 on Wednesday morning, Jan. 25.

Also with the plastic container was a piece of paper with a list of 22 names allegedly involved in illegal drugs and the words, “TANAN KAMU KUNG INDI KAMU MAG-UNTAT RAFFLE LANG NA…”

Bacolod City Police Station 2’s Police Captain Jonito Pastrana confirmed that some of the individuals listed were drug surrenderees, while others were no longer residing in the village.

Hi, my name is being withheld as I am a 13 year old girl and minor. That didn't stop an older man from shagging me and planting a baby in my belly. Now I have the distinction of being the youngest mom in Bontoc. My prize? More poverty and shame.

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1728504/13-year-old-child-registered-as-a-mother-in-bontoc-2

A 13-year old was registered as the youngest mother in Bontoc, Mountain Province, according to its local government unit (LGU).

Prior to her, a 16-year old girl was the youngest pregnancy recorded.

“The youngest mother at the age of 13 years old has been registered in 2022,” wrote the Bontoc LGU on a Facebook post on Friday.

INQUIRER.net has reached out to the Bontoc LGU to determine if the child’s pregnancy was a result of sexual abuse. The LGU has yet to respond.

According to the Municipal Civil Registry Office of Bontoc, teenage mothers in their areas have increased in 2022 after recording 39 teen pregnancies out of 767 live births.

This is a 39.38 percent increase compared to the municipality’s recorded teenage pregnancies in 2021, which was at 28.

“Out of the 39 registered teenage mothers in 2022, 17 are natives of Bontoc and the remaining 22 are from other neighboring municipalities/provinces who gave birth and registered in the municipality,” said the Bontoc LGU.

Bontoc Mayor Jerome Tudlong, Jr. called upon the public to help lessen the number of teenage pregnancies.

On Wednesday, Philippine senators were presented data from the  Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) which showed that 2,299 girls aged 10 to 14 gave birth in 2021, an increase from the 2,113 teenage live births in 2021.

The PSA also said that six to seven percent of babies born from adolescents were from men 10 years or more older than them.

Hi, my name is unknown. I was found by passers-by with my head wrapped in duct tape and gunshot wounds to my head. My hands were also tied with wire. The police hope someone could identify me but with my face so messed up that might take some time. 

https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/443806/dead-man-who-was-shot-in-the-head-and-whose-face-was-wrapped-in-duct-tape-found-in-consolacion

A dead man, whose face was wrapped in a duct tape and who was shot in the head, was found in a secluded area in Consolacion town in northern Cebu, early morning today, May 28.

Police Staff Sergeant Rechie Gilleran, investigator of the case of the Consolacion Police Station, said they were still trying to find out the victim’s identity and the perpetrators of the crime.

Gilleran said that they also had no leads yet on the motive of the killing.

He said he was also hoping that the family of the dead man could identify the victim through the photos they posted in their police station and in social media. 

“As of now wala pa jud tay identity sa victim ug sa suspect. Basin makita sa tagtungod ang iyang picture,” he told CDN Digital.

(As of now, we still don’t have the identity of the victim and the suspect. Perhaps, the victims relatives could identify him through the picture.)

Initial investigation showed that residents of Paseo Begonia, Purok 7, Barangay Sacsac, in Consolacion town heard gunshots at around 2:30 a.m. today, May 28. At 4:50 a.m., passersby found the body in the area, who then called the police.

Police said that the victim’s face was covered with duct tape and he had visible gunshot wounds at the forehead and at the back of his head.

The victim’s hands were also tied with a tie wire.

Two empty shells, a slug and T-shirt printed with the name of the fraternity were also found at the crime scene.

Hi, my name is Claire Daluping. My six month old daughter Kawhi and I both died after a retired Army officer rammed his car into our house. He was trying to pass another car which suddenly began to swerve into the left lane. But instead of hitting his brakes he stomped on the accelerator! My death is just another reason houses should not be built on the side of busy roads especially high ways. 

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1603889/mother-baby-dies-as-vehicle-rams-house-in-tabuk-city

A woman and her infant daughter died after a sports utility vehicle, driven by a retired Army officer, rammed their house in Tabuk City, Kalinga on Saturday, police said Sunday.

Claire Daluping, a 39-year-old housekeeper, died on the spot while her six-month-old daughter, Kawhi, died at the hospital, after the vehicle hit a wall of their house in Sitio (sub-village) Dananao in Barangay (village) Lacnog at 3 p.m., Police Major Gary Gayamos, Kalinga police spokesperson, said.

Wounded were Kristell Gasatan, 15, and Beverly Daluping, 14. Both were taken to the nearest hospital for treatment.

Initial investigation showed that the driver, Edwin Ortiz, 65, a retired Army officer and a resident of Tabuk City, was on his way home to Isabela when he overtook another car, which suddenly swerved to the left lane. 

When he tried to stop his vehicle, he mistakenly stepped on the accelerator instead, causing him to hit the house.

The mother and daughter were in front of the house when Ortiz’s vehicle came crashing to the wall.

The impact destroyed the house’s facade and the vehicle.

Ortiz was placed under police custody while and will face a formal complaint for reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property with double homicide and multiple physical injuries.