June 23, 2009 Major News Stories

Philippines confirms 1st H1N1 death

The Department of Health (DoH) confirmed on Monday the country's first death due to Influenza A(H1N1), a 49-year-old woman, who also had heart disease.

DOH warns of 'more virulent' A (H1N1) 

A Department of Health (DOH) official on Monday warned of a "second wave" of the influenza A (H1N1) virus with a strain which can be "more virulent and more fatal" as the country recorded its first fatality who was also infected with the dreaded virus.  "We are not headed for a second wave yet but we have to be prepared," DOH Director Yolanda Oliveros said in a release posted on the Web site of the Office of the Press Secretary..

Oliveros said the health department is now preparing its facilities and conducting simulation exercises as 445 cases of A (H1N1) infections have been reported, including 17 new ones Monday. DOH said 84 percent of infected patients have recovered and discharged from hospitals.

"Our most important response, however, is risk communication to reduce panic, and sound health infrastructure to make sure all hospitals and health facilities will be prepared to address the severely-ill cases that will be brought to hospitals," she said.

Oliveros added however that the threat of a "second wave" of A H1N1 virus may not really be serious.

Oliveros also cited that the increasing number of schools was due to the heightened awareness, "They report the cases to us and we examine the students," she said.

More schools have announced suspensions of classes due to confirmed or suspected cases of A (H1N1) infection.

A 49-year old woman from Metro Manila with Influenza A (H1N1) has died of congestive heart failure, the DOH said Monday.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said the woman, who has a history of chronic heart disease, exhibited symptoms of Influenza A (H1N1) infection namely dry cough, fever and chills and difficulty of breathing on June 17. She died two days later.

Post-autopsy findings disclosed that the death was caused by congestive heart failure secondary to acute myocardial infarction aggravated by severe pneumonia either bacterial, viral or both. Duque said a throat-swab revealed that she was positive for A (H1N1).

The health chief said the woman's husband and 21-year-old son were quarantined after exhibiting symptoms of A (H1N1) infection. He said the woman's family has yet to determine where she got the infection.

"She has no history of travel. Cause of death is congestive heart failure secondary to arterosclerotic heart disease. This means that the blood passageway to her heart was blocked. We're currently doing contact tracing of the family," Duque told radio dzMM.

He said the woman is scheduled to be buried Tuesday.

H1N1 could spread to 25% of population

Unless its spread is stopped, the Influenza A(H1N1) virus could infect as many as 25 percent of the 90 million population in the country, a health official warned on Monday.  The "projection" was based on the "rate of attack" of the virus or how fast it could be transmitted from person-to-person, said Doctor Lyndon Lee Suy, program manager for emerging infectious diseases of the Department of Health (DoH) told a hearing at the House of Representatives.

UP pre-school suspends classes – official

The Child Development Center, a pre-school based in the University of the Philippines-Diliman in Quezon City, announced a 10-day suspension of classes as a preventive measure against the Influenza A(H1N1) virus, a school official said.

No class suspension in UP Diliman

The University of the Philippines in Diliman is not suspending classes despite the confirmation of two new cases of Influenza A (H1N1).

4 Metro schools suspend classes 

(UPDATE) Three tertiary schools and an exclusive school for boys in Metro Manila suspended their classes after authorities confirmed that each had a confirmed case of the Influenza A(H1N1) virus.  The University of Sto. Tomas (UST) College Engineering on Monday afternoon said it would suspend classes on Tuesday as one of its students remained under observation for possible A(H1N1) infection.

Earlier in the day, the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, College of Nursing and the College of Rehabilitation Sciences, which are all under one building on campus, suspended their classes until June 29 due to one confirmed case of the virus.

St. Scholastica's College-Manila and Adamson University also suspended their classes to prevent the spread of the virus after these schools confirmed having one H1N1 case each.  Daniel Rodrigo Reyes, the executive director of Southridge School in Alabang, Muntinlupa City said the student with A(H1N1) came to school on June 17 and had fever the following night.

San Beda nadale na rin ng A(H1N1)

Suspindido na rin ang klase sa San Beda College sa Mendiola, Maynila bunsod ng A(H1N1) na nagresulta ng pag-akyat sa 20 ang bilang ng mga paaralang apektado ng nasabing influenza virus.

11 H1N1 cases confirmed in Sta. Rosa City

To prevent the spread of the dreaded Influenza A (H1N1), the city government of Sta. Rosa City in Laguna on Monday suspended for a week classes in selected elementary and high schools after 11 persons tested positive for the virus.

PGMA, 16 kongresista 'di iku-quarantine

Makaraang mangako ang pamahalaan ng Brazil at Japan na ligtas ang bansa sa sakit na AH1N1, hindi na rin iku-quarantine si Pangulong Gloria Arroyo at mga kasama nito pag  dating sa bansa.

Gastos ng DOH sa A(H1N1): P50 milyon na

Ipinahayag ni Health Undersecretary Mario Villaverde na umaabot na sa P50 milyon ang nagastos ng Kagawaran simula lamang noong Mayo ng mag  karoon ng mga kaso ng AH1N1 virus sa bansa.

BFAD readies recall vs anti-flu herbs

The Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) has started preparing moves to recall the registration of "hardheaded" firms that continue to advertise their herbal products as a cure against A(H1N1).

Oil companies to raise prices Tuesday

Oil companies announced that they would raise oil prices effective Tuesday.  At 12:01 a.m., Pilipinas Shell will raise gasoline and diesel prices by P0.50 per liter and kerosene by P0.75 per liter, said vice president for communications Bobby Kanapi.

Petron Corp. and Chevron (formerly Caltex) will implement the same price adjustments at 6 a.m. Tuesday, said Petron spokesperson Virginia Ruivivar and Chevron communications manager Toby Nebrida.

Chevron will also increase its E10 gasoline price by P0.50 per liter, Nebrida said.

Independent oil player Phoenix Petroleum will also raise diesel and gasoline prices by P0.50 per liter at 6 a.m. Tuesday, said lawyer Raymond Zorilla, assistant vice president for corporate affairs.

Transport Holiday itinakda

Itinakda ng militanteng grupong Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Ope rators Nationwide ang isang malawakan at mala­ki hang transport holiday sa susu  nod na buwan upang kon de nahin ang patuloy na pag taas ng presyo ng gasolina sa bansa.

November 27-28, non-working holiday

Idineklara ni Pangu long Arroyo na national holiday ang Eid'l Adha tu wing November 27-28 hindi lamang sa Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) kundi sa buong bansa.

Exhumation of 'Princess' victims pushed

The Public Attorney's Office (PAO) will file a motion for the exhumation of around 50 bodies recovered from the site of the ill-fated M/V Princess of the Stars, which were reportedly buried in a Cebu cemetery, PAO Chief Persida Acosta said.

Raps vs Sulpicio official, captain pushed

The Department of Justice on Monday pushed criminal charges against an official of Sulpicio Lines and the ship captain in connection with the MV Princess of the Stars tragedy, a year after the maritime disaster.  Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera says that prosecutors have recommended the filing of multiple homicide charges against Sulpicio shipping line's first vice president Edward Go and and the ship's captain Florencio Marimon.  Devanadera said charges will still apply to Marimon as there is no proof yet that he was among those who perished in the accident.

BOPK to pick an Osmeña to face Guardo

CEBU City Councilors Rodrigo Abellanosa and Gerardo Carillo cannot take on sports patron Jonathan Guardo in the battle for the south district House seat.  Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) will have to field either his sister Minnie, his wife Margot or him, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said yesterday.

Tomas family lists up as south voters

CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and first lady Margot Osmeña will be south district voters in 2010 and his sister Maria Victoria "Minnie" Osmeña said she will follow suit if she decides to run for the congressional seat in the south.

Tom delivers SOCA after trip abroad

CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña will deliver his state of the city address (Soca) after his trip to the United States (US) for a follow-up checkup and to Bogota, Colombia to inspect the Bus Rapid Transit.

Melo: Glo can be president and candidate

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has every right to run for a Congress seat in the 2010 elections and filing her certificate of candidacy would not mean abandoning the presidency before the constitutionally mandated transfer of power in June 2010, Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Jose Melo said.

FVR: Unfair if Glo doesn't quit 

Former president Fidel Ramos on Monday said it would be unfair and unethical if President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo runs for a seat in Congress in 2010 without resigning from the presidency. 

Lucio Tan ex-counsel in SC race

Two members of the judiciary and a lawyer who previously served as counsel for one of the companies of business tycoon Lucio Tan were included in the Judicial and Bar Council"s top choices for two vacant Supreme Court seats.  Court of Appeals Associate Justice Martin Villarama, Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Francisco Villaruz Jr., and University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law dean Roberto Abad got seven votes each from the eight-member JBC. 

Abad was the legal counsel for Tan's Fortune Tobacco Company (FCC), which won a P25.6 billion tax evasion case in 2006. The Forbes Magazine in 2008 named Tan as the second wealthiest Filipino next to SM Prime Holdings mogul Henry Sy.

Atong Ang regains freedom

Charlie 'Atong' Ang, a co-accused of former President Joseph Estrada in his plunder case, quietly regained his freedom last month after serving a two-year probation for pleading guilty to a lesser offense of corruption of public officials.

TF formed to solve killing of Peza lawyer

 

A TASK force has been activated to investigate the death of lawyer Mary Jane Arada and her husband, retired colonel Francisco Arada.

6 cops in Failon case suspended

Six Quezon City policemen were suspended on Monday over the "illegal" arrests of several people in connection with the death of the wife of broadcaster Ted Failon last April.

City won't close 5 KFCs with fake permits

CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña will not close five Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) branches victimized by makers of fake business permits.

OFW inflows from US down 10% in Jan-Apr

Remittances from the US declined by 10 percent in the first four months of this year and if this continues for the rest of the year, total remittances could post the first decline since the country started sending workers abroad.

40 OFWs jailed in Kuwait to be repatriated

The repatriation to the Philippines of 40 overseas Filipino Workers who have been languishing in the deportation center in Kuwait for violation of immigration laws have started, Vice President Noli De Castro said on Monday.

15 OFWs in Sabah helped—DFA

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday belied the claim by the Gabriela partylist and the Asia Pacific Mission for Migrant Workers that the Philippine government has not attended to 15 undocumented Filipino workers in a palm oil plantation in Sabah.

RP to fall into recession this year -- WB

The World Bank has warned that the Philippines would slip into recession this year, saying government efforts to stimulate the economy would not be enough to revitalize foreign investments as the global turmoil continued to push businesses to the sidelines.

457 arrested in Tehran clashes

State radio said Monday that 457 people were arrested in clashes between demonstrators and security forces in Tehran that took place late Saturday.

November fight may be the last for Pacman

Manny Pacquiao appears bent on entering the political ring that he is seriously contemplating leaving the boxing ring for good. The reigning pound-for-pound king declared he is good for one last fight, his projected November 14 gig at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas intended to be his swan song.

Roach fires Moorer--report

"Trainer of the Year" Freddie Roach has fired his assistant trainer Michael Moorer, a former world heavyweight champion.  The primary reason was a "personality conflict between he (Moorer) and Manny Pacquiao, and he (Moorer) and Amir Khan."

Mosley offers 'perfect' fight script

Shane Mosley said he wants to fight Manny Pacquiao so whoever wins will get to face the winner of the Floyd Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez showdown which was recently postponed and tentatively rescheduled to September.

RP appeals for 4-day quarantine 

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Harry Angping yesterday requested the Singapore Health Ministry to shorten the mandatory seven-day quarantine period to four days to allow the Philippine football team to play its last two elimination round games in the First Asian Youth Games in Singapore.

History beckons for Federer at Wimbledon

Roger Federer's bid for a record 15th Grand Slam title got underway in familiar fashion as the five-time champion settled into Wimbledon's new-look centre court with a straight sets demolition of Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun.

Gov't spends P14 million for Bible study

The newly created Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) is currently spending more than P14 million for a "values education" and "purpose driven life" seminar for all its employees.  Employees of the CAAP, who requested anonymity, told The STAR that retired Philippine Air Force (PAF) general Ruben Ciron, CAAP director general, has allotted a budget of P14,819,080 for a supposed "Spiritual Advancement Values Education" (SAVE) program that started in September 2008.

The program reportedly entails an employee attending "multi-level" 25-hour values education and "purpose-driven life" seminars supervised by Ciron's consultant, Bishop Ernesto Sacro who, like the CAAP chief, is a retired military general or a Philippine Navy commodore.

So-called "organic" CAAP employees, or those that have been absorbed from its forerunner, the Air Transportation Office (ATO), characterized the SAVE program as a highly suspicious and unnecessary undertaking that uses up much of the agency's funds and even diverts its focus as it tries to regain a Category I status with the United States' Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) that it lost in December 2007.

"We should be focusing our resources and our energies towards satisfying the US FAA requirements so that we can regain Category I status which is the main reason why the CAAP was created," a source toldThe STAR.

"But with this Bible study program of the CAAP leadership, we have wasted our funds as well as the precious time of our employees," the source added.

The CAAP was formed upon signing into law of Republic Act 9497, otherwise known as the CAAP Law, in March 2008.

The passage of the CAAP Law was rushed as the country scrambled to regain Category I status with the US FAA.

The Philippines' downgrade to Category II status particularly hit the country's leading carrier, Philippine Airlines, since it was prevented from opening more routes to and from the United States and from upgrading its aircraft on these routes.

Organic CAAP employees had earlier aired dissatisfaction with Ciron's appointment of numerous fellow retired military officials to key CAAP positions without the requisite civil aviation technical expertise and training.

To avoid questions on the appointment of these unqualified retired military officers, Ciron hired them as "consultants," the sources said.

Henny Youngman  - "I told the doctor I broke my leg in two places. He told me to quit going to those places."