NATION | Ex-President Aquino, ex-DOH Sec. Garin face murder, plunder complaint over Dengvaxia mess

Former President Benigno Aquino III and his Health Secretary Janette Garin via CNNPH

Metro Manila (December 15) — Former President Benigno Aquino III and his Health Secretary Janette Garin on Friday were slapped with criminal complaint over their controversial national dengue vaccine program.

Former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Chief Augusto Syjuco filed a mass murder complaint resulting to reckless imprudence and plunder against Aquino and Garin before the Ombudsman.

Aquino, during the Senate joint hearing on the Dengvaxia vaccine controversy, defended his administration's decision to buy P3.5 billion-worth of vaccines from French pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur. Senators questioned the seemingly hasty procurement.

Aquino defended the Dengvaxia procurement process: If the government failed to immediately set aside funds, the vaccine program would face delay amid growing concerns over the spread of the mosquito-borne virus.

"If we do not do this at this point in time, you are practically saying that the first implementation of this vaccine will be in 2017 because it will be for the next budget cycle which will be under the new administration," he said on Thursday.

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He added no questions were raised when the dengue vaccine was bought in 2016.

"Bago nagdesisyon ang gobyerno sa Dengvaxia, habang nagdedesisyon, pagkatapos magdesisyon, at hanggang ngayon, walang nagparating sa akin ng pagtutol sa bakuna," he said on Thursday.

Sanofi Pasteur said no deaths were caused by its vaccine.

The national dengue vaccine program began a month before the presidential elections in May.

The pharmaceutical giant in November 2017 revealed Dengvaxia may lead to more severe forms of dengue in those not infected by the virus before.

NATION | PH allies pitch in for Marawi rehabilitation

Ruins of Marawa/CNN Philippines

Metro Manila — Several countries and international organizations have pledged to help rebuild war-torn Marawi, Malacañang said Friday.

These include Australia, Japan, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Asian Development Bank (ADB), European Union (EU), World Bank, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Task Force Bangon Marawi said it is studying the offers to ensure compliance with the government's policy on foreign aid.

"We understand that there are certain pronouncements made by the President regarding certain manners… Of course we're duty-bound to follow those policies," Office of Civil Defense Assistant Secretary and Task Force Bangon Marawi Spokesman Kristoffer James Purisima said in a Malacañang press briefing.

"We will periodically release information as to which donations we've accepted," he said.
President Rodrigo Duterte has made it clear he does not want any aid with conditions, as he repeatedly lashed out at the European Union (EU) for alleged criticisms of the drug war.

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The EU pledged up to P6 billion to help the displaced Marawi residents start small businesses.
Though the President has said he does not want aid from EU, there is no final decision yet, according to Task Force Bangon Marawi.

It said the government has already received assistance from Canada, China, Germany, Korea, India, Thailand, Singapore, Association of Southeast Asian Nations  (ASEAN) Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance, and USAID.

Details on how much each donor has given, in cash or in kind, has yet to be released.
Duterte earlier said rebuilding Marawi may cost more than P50 billion.

Help in military training

Apart from financial aid, there are also offers to help train the country's troops in urban warfare, the kind of warfare that government troops had engaged in with the ISIS-inspired Maute Group in Marawi.

Armed Forces spokesman Major General Restituto Padilla said Australia is training a military battalion for this. This is the battalion that was first sent to Marawi when the crisis broke out on May 23, prompting Duterte to declare martial law throughout Mindanao.

He said the U.S., Russia, and China have also expressed willingness to assist the Philippine military with similar kinds of training.

"Although meron namang orientation at meron namang konting training ang ating karamihan na sundalo, bibihira at maliit lang 'yung puwersa natin na talagang ganap na handa sa ganitong mga pagkakataon (Although our soldiers have some training in urban warfare, only a small part of our force is really equipped)," Padilla said.

Terrorists may no longer be in Marawi, after soldiers killed 920 of them, but no less than President Duterte warned that "lone wolf" attacks may happen across the country. A total of 165 soldiers and 47 civilians were also killed in Marawi.

Padilla said "lone wolves" may come from the list of suspected rebels and terrorists that the government ordered arrested since June. Of some 300 names in the list, only about 100 are in custody.

"Remember, they still remain at large. So they still pose a threat," Padilla said.

The military calls on Filipinos to report any suspicous effort by extremists to recruit followers via social media, to prevent any terror attack.

WEATHER | Over 7,000 stranded as 'Urduja' heads for Eastern Samar

Stranded passengers at the port who were stranded due to bad weather condition

Source: CNN Philippines

Metro Manila (December 15) — Thousands of passengers remain stranded at ports Friday in the path of tropical storm "Urduja" (International name: "Kai-tak"), which has strengthened even as it slowed down approaching the eastern Philippines.

Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, and Biliran are now under Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal No. 2, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

At the moment, we're already getting reports of flooded areas and some scenarios of landslides. PAGASA weather forecaster Lorie Dela Cruz said.

It's been raining for a few days there, which means to say, it's more likely that the soil is really saturated and that many places are now very prone to floods and landslides.

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Tropical storm Urduja also prompted the Philippine Coast Guard to suspend ferry trips, as PAGASA warned of waves as high as 14 meters off the seas where Signal No. 2 has been raised.

Some 7,500 passengers are stranded at ports in Central Luzon, Eastern Visayas and Bicol as of 4 a.m. Friday, the coast guard said.

Urduja was spotted 205 kilometers east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar, as of 7 a.m., PAGASA said.

Urduja is packing winds of 75 kilometers per hour (kph) near the center, up from the previous 65 kph. The winds carry gusts of up to 90 kph.

Moderate to heavy rains are forecast within a 500-km diameter of the storm, PAGASA added.
The storm, which has slowed to 5 kph, is expected to make landfall over the provinces of Eastern Samar and Northern Samar on Saturday, it added.

Because of its slow movement, Urduja is expected to leave Philippine territory by next week, Dela Cruz said. PAGASA forecast the storm to be 120 kilometers north of Puerto Princesa City in Palawan by December 19.
Meanwhile, the following areas are under Signal No. 1:
In Luzon:

• Catanduanes
• Camarines Sur
• Albay
• Sorsogon
• Romblon
• Masbate including Burias and Ticao Islands

In Visayas:

• Leyte
• Southern Leyte
• Northern Cebu
• Northern Bohol
• Capiz
• Aklan
• Northern Iloilo

In Mindanao:

• Dinagat Islands

Storm signal no. 1 indicates suspension of classes in pre-school and kindergarten levels.

Ahead of Urduja's expected landfall on Saturday, the weather bureau raised flooding warning levels in low-lying areas and warned of possible landslides in mountainous areas.

Scattered to widespread rains are expected over the Visayas and the regions of Bicol and Caraga in the next 24 hours, PAGASA said.

Residents in these areas are also alerted against possible flash floods and landslides.

Fishermen and small seacraft are warned against sailing off the coast of the Bicol region and Visayas due to rough seas.

Some local governments have suspended classes on Friday.

Nation | Duterte, willing to settle beef with ABS-CBN if..

© Toto Lozano/PPD President Rodrigo Duterte speaks at the People's Day celebration in Socorro, Oriental Mindoro on Wednesday, March 29, 2017, underscoring the need for a friendly approach to addressing territorial disputes with China via GMANews

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he was willing to enter into a compromise deal with broadcast network ABS-CBN if the company would promote his bid for a shift to a federal form of government.

"Kung magtulong kayo diyan sa federal system campaign at gawain ninyong slogan also for the unity and to preserve this Republic, makipag-areglo ako," Duterte said in a speech at the PDP-Laban's Christmas Benefit Dinner for Marawi at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City.

"Just dedicate a portion of your time, your expensive and precious time on TV, help us promote federalism, only the good ones. But if you think that it is not into your system, fine," he added.

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ABS-CBN has been a frequent target of Duterte's rants, with the President accusing the network of accepting funds from him without airing his political advertisements.

He had also threatened to block the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise, which is set to expire in 2020.

In his speech, Duterte again hit the Lopez Holdings Corp., which controls ABS-CBN, for allegedly not paying its debt to the state-run Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).

"DBP, kayong mga negosyante, alam naman ninyo DBP pabangkarote, why? Because the Lopez Group of Companies and their debts were condoned, not paid," Duterte said.

"Kaya ‘wag ninyo ako bolahin mga ABS-CBN...you know he who comes to equity must have clean hands. When you talk of righteousness, be sure that you are right," he added.

Lopez Holdings Corp. earlier said it does not have any unpaid obligations to the DBP or other government financial institutions after Duterte announced on August 30 that he was going after holdings company over supposed debt to the state owned lender. 

HEALTH: On World AIDS Day, health chief seeks to break HIV stigma

People light candles to mark World AIDS Day in 2016. Czar Dancel, Reuters

MANILA- The Department of Health on Friday urged Filipinos to be sensitive to the feelings of those living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Health Chief Francisco Duque III in a press briefing during World AIDS Day, called upon the public not to stigmatize people living with HIV.

"We have to be sensitive also to their feelings at alam naman natin na malalim na ang kanilang problema. Huwag na nating dadagdagan pa ito sa paraan na malalagay sila sa kahihiyan," he told reporters.

(We already know that they have a big problem. Let us not add to their problems by placing them in an embarrassing situation)

"Let's not stigmatize our people suffering from HIV/AIDS," he added.

The prevalence rate of HIV in the Philippines remains at less than one percent, Duque said, but noted that the virus continues to pose "significant threat" to Filipino families.

Since 1984 to August 2017, Duque said a total of 46,985 HIV cases have been reported to the Department of Health. This number is expected to go up to 142,000 by year 2022.

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Most of reported HIV cases are concentrated in key populations who engage in "risky behavior," with 2 in 3 new cases coming from the age group of 15 to 24 years old, he said.

From January to August 2017, majority or 84 percent of reported HIV cases are males who engaged in sexual activity with males, Duque said.

Duque urged people living with HIV to gain access to antiretroviral therapy.

"We urge those who are diagnosed with to come forward and access the life-saving antiretroviral drugs in all our DOH-designated HIV treatment facilities," he said.

NATIONAL: AFP refutes Sison for comparing Bulacan encounter to “Tokhang”

Jose Maria Sison (Photo Credits: www.ndfp.org) By Kistan Carag, RHNews

MANILA - The Armed Forces of the Philippines refuted the statement of Communist Party of the Philippines founder Jose Maria Sison.

In a previous statement, Sison compared the encounter in Nasugbu, Batangas, which led to the deaths of 15 alleged members of the New People’s Army, to the controversial Oplan Tokhang.

According to Brig. Gen. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos, commander of the 202^nd Infantry Brigade of the Philippine Army, the statement of Sison is just propaganda against the military.

Burgos said that Sison only seeks to preserve himself and the subsiding support for the communist rebel groups in the Philippines, particularly in Region-4A.

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The army official explained that the military respects the human rights of the rebels, which is proven when the soldiers brought wounded NPA members to the hospital.

Burgos also insisted that the encounter in Nasugbu is a legitimate operation and this is proven by the numerous weapons and subversive documents seized from the slain communists.

WORLD: White House waned to publicly shame Tillerson

By Michelle Kosinski and Sara Murray,  via CNN

Washington - Reports that the White House has a tentative plan to replace Secretary of State Rex Tillerson that emerged Thursday were an effort to express President Donald Trump's deep displeasure and publicly shame his secretary of state, a source with direct knowledge of the White House's thinking said Thursday.

The hope from the White House, the source said, is to push out the plan to replace Tillerson and then "wait for him to punch out."

The news that the White House is seriously considering replacing Tillerson with CIA Director Mike Pompeo comes as Trump remains deeply frustrated with his secretary of state, another source familiar with the President's thinking said.

And the plan is not just being considered at the staff level, but by the President himself, the source said.

The issue could come up during a scheduled lunch between Trump, Tillerson and Defense Secretary James Mattis at the White House Friday.

The attempt at public shaming is just the latest such instance emanating from the Trump White House, where the President has repeatedly publicly undermined his secretary of state and publicly berated his attorney general.

His public response to the reports on Thursday signaled no desire to spare his secretary of state -- who still has not denied having called the President a "moron" in private.

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"He's here. Rex is here," Trump offered, noting that Tillerson was in the building -- but not in the room -- at the time.

The response was equally uninspired from the White House briefing room, where White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said simply that "when the President loses confidence in someone, they will no longer serve in the capacity that they're in."

The timing of Tillerson's expected departure remains uncertain, but multiple officials said the shake-up could come at the end of the year or early next.

"The clock is ticking," the source familiar with the White House's latest thinking said.

Mattis said Thursday that "there's nothing to" the rumors about Tillerson being forced out by the White House.

"I make nothing of it, there's nothing to it," Mattis said before a bilateral meeting with Libya's Prime Minister.

But the White House's tentative plans to replace Pompeo at the CIA with Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, could present a wrinkle in the strategy.

Cotton isn't up for reelection until 2020, and moving him to the CIA role would put another Senate seat in play in 2018 -- at a time when Republicans have a razor-thin majority. That is giving West Wing officials pause, a source close to the White House said.

If Cotton were to take the CIA job, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican, would select someone to fill the vacant seat -- and Republican officials would have a tight time frame to field a candidate who can win statewide in 2018, even though Arkansas is a deep red state.

The GOP would have to field a candidate by March 1, when the filing period ends, and the primaries are currently scheduled for May 22.

But the process could hit a roadblock as the governor's Senate appointee could not run in 2018, according to a clause in the state's constitution. But the Arkansas Secretary of State's office raised questions about that clause, noting that US Constitution may offer a conflicting view that could override the state statute.