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PH, US tackle China moves
Top envoys reaffirm mutual defense pact, take on Asian hate crime By Rey E. Requejo and Maricel V. Cruz
T
OP Philippine and US diplomats discussed the swarming of Chinese militia vessels in the Julian Felipe Reef in the West Philippine Sea, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed Washington’s defense obligation to its oldest military ally in Asia.
Blinken gave this assurance during a phone conversation with his counterpart Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Friday. “Substantive conversation today
CHINA DIGGING UP MATERIALS FROM PH, SAYS GROUP
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with my Philippine counterpart, [Sec. Teodoro Locsin Jr.], discussing our concerns with People’s Republic of China militia vessels in the South Next page
VOL. XXXV • NO. 54 • 3 SECTIONS 12 PAGES • P18 • SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2021 • www.manilastandard.net • mst.daydesk@gmail.com
Claimants
Map indicates areas where countries are staking their claim in the vast expanse of South China Sea/West Philippines Sea. (Inset) A screen grab from the video showing a Chinese patrol vessel, a Houbei Type 22 fast attack craft, approaching a Filipino vessel with an ABS-CBN news team on board in the West Philippine Sea Thursday, April 8, 2021.
Filipino boat Deaths, active cases pile up but OCTA pushes MECQ chased by Sinos; AFP sets probe By Willie Casas
THE Philippines on Friday logged a record high of 401 deaths in a single day due to COVID-19 as active cases shot up to 178,351, also a record high. As cases continued to increase, the OCTA Research Group said the government should impose a two-week modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) to “sustain the gains” made over the previous weeks if the ECQ imposed on NCR Plus cannot be sustained. Prof. Ranjit Rye of OCTA said the COVID-19 situation in Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal —called NCR Plus — is “not yet ideal
By Maricel V. Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta THE Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said Friday it was investigating a report that Chinese military boats pursued a civilian vessel carrying Filipino journalists in the disputed South China Sea. A television crew from ABS-CBN was traveling to Second Thomas Shoal in the contested Spratly Islands on Thursday when their vessel was allegedly chased by a Chinese Coast Guard boat and two attack craft. Tensions over the resource-rich sea have spiked in recent weeks after hundreds of Chinese vessels were detected at the Julian Felipe (Whitsun Reef), which is also in the Spratly archipelago.
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MODERN DAY HEROES. As the
nation marked the Day of Valor, frontline workers such as doctors, nurses and their kind, and even soldiers, cops and local officials including village watchmen could be considered heroes of the modern day given their sacrifices and bravery in the war against COVID-19, an unseen yet deadly enemy.
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Specialist eases fears of vax-induced blood clot : Rare case By Willie Casas AN INFECTIOUS disease specialist and member of the Philippines’ vaccine expert panel has sought to allay fears after the Philippines stopped the
use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine following rare cases of blood clots reported abroad. Dr. Rontgene Solante said the suspension of the UK-made jab, once hailed as a milestone in the fight against the pan-
FRANCE APPROVES MIXED VACCINE DOSES
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demic, was only temporary. “This is part of the process when we approved the EUA for this vaccine. If there are safety signals, our local experts will have to review it so we can determine if it’s not unsafe in our vaccination,” Solante
Teamwork makes House productive – Romualdez
COVID-19 PH AT A GLANCE
(AS OF 4 PM APRIL 9)
840,554 TOTAL NUMBER OF CASES
12,225 178,351 NEW
ACTIVE
14,520
401
647,683
946
DEATHS
RECOVERIES
NEW
NEW
‘Special permit for ivermectin per patient only’ By Willie Casas
told Teleradyo’s “Sakto.” The AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine obtained regulatory approval in the Philippines on January 28 but has been recently hit with safety concerns abroad. Next page
FORMER Health Secretary Dr. Paulyn Ubial on Friday said the Food and Drug Administration’s compassionate use permit for anti-parasitic drug iver ivermectin should be issued per patient. In an interview with Balitanghali, Ubial ex explained the permit issued to the hospital did not give them “blanket author authorNext page
By Maricel V. Cruz MAJORITY Leader Martin Romualdez said Friday his House col-leagues’ demonstration of teamwork as well as the efficient and professional help provided by the legislative staff enabled the 18th Next page
Rody hails frontline workers as soldiers of war on COVID By Vito Barcelo, Maricel V. Cruz and Willie Casas PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte paid tribute Friday to the country’s “selfless and dedicated” COVID-19 pandemic frontliners who likened Next page
Prince Philip of UK passes away at 99 BRITAIN’S Prince Philip, a constant presence at Queen Elizabeth II’s side for decades, died Friday at age 99, Buckingham Palace announced. Next page