Good day. Here are the stories for The Manila Times for Tuesday, October 5, 2021.
READ: Mago retracts testimony
Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. executive Krizle Grace Mago on Monday recanted her statement before the Senate that the firm had swindled the government. Appearing before the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, Mago said she was under pressure when she made the statement in the Senate. Meanwhile, Sen. Richard Gordon, who heads the Senate blue ribbon committee that is investigating Pharmally's contracts with the government, said that he expected Mago to retract her testimony. Mago had testified before the committee that Mohit Dargani, Pharmally treasurer, ordered her to alter the expiry date on face shields intended for public health workers. Dargani denied Mago's claim.
READ: Arroyo guns for former post
Former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has come out of retirement to run for congressional representative of Pampanga's second district in the 2022 elections. Arroyo's son, Pampanga Second District Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo, confirmed that she filed her CoC or certificate of candidacy through her lawyer last Friday. Arroyo, who is also a former House speaker, is running under the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) party. The Lakas-CMD expressed strong support for her decision to return to public office. Lakas-CMD President Martin Romualdez, Secretary General Prospero Pichay Jr., spokesman Christopher de Venecia and members of the executive committee welcomed the filing of her CoC.
READ: 'Isko' vows to end divisiveness
Manila Mayor and Aksyon Demokratiko standard bearer Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso vowed to stop divisiveness and indecisiveness if he wins next year. The mayor formalized his run for the presidency by filing his certificate of candidacy (CoC) on Monday. The former actor was accompanied by his wife Diana and running mate Dr. Willie Ong, who also filed his CoC for vice president. Speaking after filing his certificate, Domagoso said he would be one with the people in putting a stop to divisiveness and indecisiveness. Moreno filed his CoC on October 4, a special day for him since it is the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. Domagoso's late mother, Rosario, named him after the saint whose life centered on serving the poor and oppressed. It is also the birthday of his late mentor, star builder German "Kuya Germs" Moreno. Domagoso said he will announce his party's senatorial slate "in the coming weeks." Aksyon Demokratiko so far has two names in its Senate ticket: Moro civil society civic leader Samira Gutoc, who filed her candidacy over the weekend, and educator and entrepreneur Carl Balita. Domagoso joined the party in August and was elected as its president a week later.
READ: TB, obesity among children's comorbidities
Children with comorbidities such as genetic disorders, cardiovascular and renal diseases as well as those afflicted with HIV or the human immunodeficiency virus will be the first to receive Covid-19 vaccines. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the other comorbidities listed by the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society of the Philippines Inc. are neurological conditions, metabolic and endocrine conditions, obesity, tuberculosis, and hepatobiliary disorders and other medical complexities. Vergeire said that the inoculation of these children should have a doctor's clearance. Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd said that the guidelines for the pediatric vaccination will be issued before the pilot run begins on October 15.
READ: Fewer lab tests led to case downtrend
The Department of Health (DoH) is convinced that the declining numbers of Covid-19 cases is due to the dropping output of testing laboratories and not because of an actual downturn in cases. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire also reiterated Monday it was inconclusive to say that the surge in cases that was being driven by the highly infectious Delta variant had reached its peak. In the National Capital Region, the number of tests is down by 14.1 percent, from 266,042 in the previous week to 228,659 tests in the week ending October 1.
BUSINESS: Restrictions sought for unvaccinated
Over to business, industry and business groups on Monday called for ramped up Covid-19 vaccination but also urged the government to restrict the activities of those who are unvaccinated. In a joint statement, the groups said they support the government's view that Covid-19 vaccination policies should be more robust in order to save more Filipinos from serious sickness and death and help the economy and jobs to recover.
SPORTS: Saso finishes at joint 19th in Shoprite Classic
In sports, Filipino golf sensation Yuka Saso finished joint 19th in the ShopRite LPGA Classic 2021 on Monday, October 4 (Philippine time) at the Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club - Bay Course in New Jersey. Saso carded 2-under 69 in the third and final round following her 4-under 67 in the first and 1-under 70 in the second for a total of 7-under 206, as she went from 11th place to 16th and to 19th in the tournament. The 20-year-old Saso tallied an eagle on the third hole, a bogey on the sixth, a birdie on the eighth and 14th holes, and a birdie on the 15th in the third round. Saso finished seven strokes behind French leader Celine Boutier who fired a sizzling 8-under 63 in the third for a total of 14-under 199, one shot ahead of joint second placers in Canadian Brooke Henderson and South Koreans Ko Jin-Young and Park Inbee, who totalled 13-under 200. The reigning US Open Women's champ Saso earned $18,615 or around P945,000 for placing 19th in the competition joined by two more Pinay golfers in Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina.
READ: Opinion and editorial
Antonio Contreras and Yen Makabenta are today's front page columnists. Contreras brings out another survey, while Makabenta analyzes why the Philippines is the worst country to be in a pandemic.
Today's editorial calls for rich nations to man up at the upcoming COP26 climate summit, to be held in the United Kingdom. Read a full version on the paper's opinion section or listen to the Voice of the Times.
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On behalf of The Manila Times, this is Aric John Sy Cua reporting. Have a safe Tuesday ahead.