Sunday, June 14, 2009

DOH: Flu pandemic no reason to panic, A(H1N1) mild compared to SARS, avian flu


MANILA, Philippines - Expect more A(H1N1) cases in the Philippines, but there’s no reason to panic, at least for now. Despite the World Health Organization (WHO)’s declaration that it is already a pandemic, the new flu strain has not yet evolved into a threat similar to the SARS corona virus and avian flu that cause acute diseases.

“It needs to be emphasized … that the current grading of a pandemic by WHO focuses on the geographic spread of the virus and not on its virulence or its capability to cause deaths or severe disease," said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

He stressed that good personal hygiene and avoidance of crowded areas were still the best defense against the A(H1N1) virus, which is mild in nature and has no unique symptoms that could differentiate it from seasonal flu.

Duque said he has discussed the nature of the virus with DOH regional officials and hospitals in the provinces are prepared in case of a community level outbreak, which is defined as virus transmission that has become difficult to trace to the source of infection.

On Friday, Nueva Ecija provincial health officer Dr. Benjamin Lopez reported that 11 students from Hilera Elementary School in Jaen town have tested positive for the virus. The figure is not included in the 92 cases previously reported by DOH on Thursday.

In a GMAnews report, Lopez said health officials have yet to find out how the students got infected, as none of them had traveled abroad recently or had any close contact with A(H1N1) patients. All of them are observing self-quarantine and recovering at home, he added.

Since the virus was first detected in April, nearly 30,000 cases in 74 countries have been recorded, with 144 deaths. WHO director-general Dr. Margaret Chan declared on Thursday: “The world is now at the start of the 2009 influenza pandemic."

Despite the contagion, the WHO said it did not expect a sudden and dramatic jump in the number of severe cases due to the new flu strain. A(H1N1) fatality rate is currently low at only 0.5 percent. SARS and avian flu kill about half of their victims, while dengue in the Philippines has a fatality rate of one to two percent.

“There were cases in the Philippines when the patient recovered only after two to three days without even taking medication," said Dr. Eric Tayag, head of the Department of Health’s National Epidemiology Center.

First batch of swine flu vaccine


On Friday, Swiss drugs manufacturer Novartis announced that it has produced the first batch of vaccine for the new flu strain and clinical trials will begin in July.

"Novartis has successfully completed the production of the first batch of influenza A(H1N1) vaccine, weeks ahead of expectations," the company said in a statement.

"The speed advantages of our cell-based production approach and our unwavering commitment to address this public health emergency have resulted in our ability to provide the fastest possible response to this outbreak," the statement quoted Dr. Andrin Oswald, CEO of Novartis Vaccines and Diagnostics, as saying.

The company expects to obtain a license by fall so it can supply more than 30 governments that have made requests to Novartis for influenza A(H1N1) vaccine ingredients, the statement added.

No rhyme or reason

According to WHO, the new flu strain infected mostly young people under 25 years, while most of the severe and fatal infections occurred in adults between 30 and 50 years.

“Further spread is considered inevitable," Chan said. So far, most of the infections have been reported in developed countries, but she said it would be “prudent to anticipate a bleaker picture" if the pandemic spreads to poorer nations.

“The virus writes the rules, and this one, like all influenza viruses, can change the rules, without rhyme or reason, at any time," Chan said.

In contrast, the behavior of the avian flu virus was “more definite" as it was ascertained that humans who contracted the disease had exposure to birds, Tayag said.

SARS also has a “stable identity," according to Tayag. “Because the disease was severe and the patient needed to be hospitalized, the spread of the disease was contained. Only doctors and nurses taking care of the patient contracted SARS."

But he said A(H1N1)’s behavior is new and unusual. “It’s not sure whether it wants to kill or just spread a mild disease similar to that of common flu."

Tayag cited the behavior of the so-called Spanish influenza virus, which was mild at first but became more deadly when it re-emerged. The similar A(H1N1) strain killed an estimated 50 to 100 million people and infected 500 million people in 1918, when public health systems were not as advanced as they are today. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/164799/DOH-Flu-pandemic-no-reason-to-panic-A(H1N1)-mild-compared-to-SARS-avian-flu

Villagers flee as troops fight Cotabato raiders


KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines– Hundreds of villagers in the southern province of North Cotabato fled their homes late Friday amid an offensive by government forces pursuing Moro rebels who raided the provincial jail.

Evacuees on Saturday said the affected villages were in parts of Kidapawan and the nearby town of Matalam.

Mortar shelling started Friday afternoon and continued until Saturday morning, said villagers from West Patadon in Matalam, who asked not to be named.

Lt. Col. Jonathan Ponce, spokesman of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, confirmed that an offensive was under way by Army and Philippine National Police (PNP) operatives against suspected members of the 108th base command of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Members of the group were earlier reported to have blasted their way into the provincial jail in Kidapawan on Thursday dawn to rescue jail comrades.

A jail guard was killed and three others, including the jail warden, were injured during the attack.

Ponce said troops are also hunting four MILF commanders, former inmates at the Cotabato provincial jail who posted bail in early March and were suspected to have led the daring raid.

He identified the leader as Noel Pedtamanan who was arrested in Kabacan town in North Cotabato in March 2009 for motorcycle theft case, but posted bail afterward.

Pedtamanan, also known as Lastikman, is also involved in high-profile crimes, including kidnapping and drug trafficking, according to Ponce.

With Pedtamanan during the attack were Kamid Mangagta, Mong Balalay, and Alex Gani, who were also given temporary liberty after posting bail early March.

The attackers, however, failed to rescue the 12 high-risk inmates, including Mansuri Salic and Ibrahim Sacandal, when operatives of the 1202nd Cotabato Provincial Police Mobile Group deployed inside the compound responded with gunfire.

Ponce said the attack last Thursday was a clear indication the MILF leadership is “a lame duck because it could no longer control their field commanders."

But MILF spokesman Eid Kabalu refuted such allegation saying the attack was not sanctioned by its hierarchy.

There is also no truth to the report Pedtamanan was out to rescue Salic and other MILF members.

“As far as I know, Salic is the only MILF member locked there at the provincial jail. He is just a plain member, not a commander as earlier reported. We will follow the due course of law. There’s no plan, whatsoever, to rescue him," said Kabalu in a radio interview.

Kabalu said what he knew was that the attackers belong to a powerful clan in North Cotabato whose kin were arrested this year for several crimes.

Because of the raid, the Sangguniang Panglungsod (city council) of Kidapawan passed an urgent resolution that called for an immediate transfer of high-risk inmates from the provincial jail to a prison in Metro Manila, which is more secured.

“We don’t want a repeat of this bloody incident," said City Vice-Mayor Joseph Evangelista, the presiding chair of the council.

The attack last Thursday was the second bloody raid since 2007.

In February 2007, gunmen attacked the provincial jail and rescued 43 inmates, including high-risk suspects.

Only 12 escapees have been re-arrested. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/164829/Villagers-flee-as-troops-fight-Cotabato-raiders

Jimenezes on Barrameda slay: 'This is a frame-up'


Ruby Rose Barrameda-Jimenez
MANILA, Philippines – The killing of Ruby Rose Barrameda-Jimenez, sister of Binibining Pilipinas runner-up Rochelle, is a product of an attempt to destroy and "frame up" the Jimenezes, according to Mario Aguinaldo, the family lawyer.

Some people could have taken advantage of the marital problems of the couple to get back at the business interests of the family of Manuel “Third" Jimenez III, husband of Ruby Rose, Aguinaldo said in an interview with GMANews.TV.

The Jimenezes are engaged in several businesses, including fishing and agricultural companies. The family owns a farmland and a poultry farm in Cavite, as well as a number of gasoline stations.

Third’s uncle, Lope Jimenez, also owns the Buena Suerte Jimenez (BSJ) Fishing and Trading Inc. in Navotas, where Ruby Rose’s remains were found sealed inside a steel box submerged off the fish port.

Court cases

"This is a frame-up. When these people learned that the couple has cases in court, they grabbed the opportunity to aggravate the situation and destroy the [Jimenez] family," Aguinaldo said.

He was referring to two petitions that Ruby Rose had filed at the Las Piñas Regional Trial Court against her husband in 2007.

According to Aguinaldo, the couple and their two children lived with Third’s parents in BF Homes in Parañaque.

Two years ago, on Jan. 21, 2007, the couple quarreled over a pair of diamond earrings that Third gave to his wife. Ruby Rose apparently switched her earrings with those of her sister’s – Rochelle.

After their quarrel, Ruby stormed out of their house and never returned.

Later, she filed a petition seeking a temporary protection order, accusing Third of beating her up. The case was dismissed by the court.

Ruby Rose’s second petition asked the court to issue a writ of habeas corpus so she could gain custody over her daughters. The case has remained archived in court since her disappearance.

Hearsay

Aguinaldo said it was possible the Jimenez family may have earned the ire of some employees or business competitors, who could have acted against them.

He said they were still gathering evidence to prove that someone with a grudge against the Jimenez family was behind the killing of Ruby Rose.

The Jimenez camp has repeatedly denied any responsibility in the death of Ruby Rose, saying the Barramedas’ accusation would be considered hearsay because they were based solely on an informant’s statements. (See: Kapatid ng aktres natagpuang nakasilid sa sinimentong drum)

The informant is Manuel Montero, who confessed to the crime and said he was among the people who helped in cementing the steel case. Montero led police investigators to the location of the remains and has identified his supposed "accomplices."

Ruby Rose was identified by her family through the earrings and clothes she was wearing. Dental records also confirmed the body’s identity.

Parents of murder victim Ruby Rose Jimenez, attend a police conference in Taguig. Probers are eyeing seven suspects in the slaying of Ruby Rose, whose body was found in a concrete-encased steel drum in Navotas. Benjie Castro
Montero’s accounts led to the filing of murder charges against him, Ruby Rose’s father-in-law, Third’s uncle Lope, and four other people. (See: Ruby Rose father-in-law, 6 others face murder charges)

Aguinaldo criticized the accusation, saying the location of the body indicated that the Jimenez family had no hand in the crime.

"If they [the Jimenez family] did it, they should have dumped it to higher seas or even transported the body abroad, but not bring it somewhere near their own property," Aguinaldo said.

'We searched for her too'

The Barramedas last saw Ruby Rose’s daughters two years ago. Apart from getting a photo sent through MMS to them by the Jimenez family, Ruby Rose’s relatives have been unsuccessful in getting a glimpse of the two girls.

In March 2007, the Barrameda family was forced to report the disappearance of Ruby Rose to the police after allegedly failing to get assistance from her husband’s family.

Aguinaldo denied the Barrameda family’s claim and said the Jimenez family had been doing its own search for Ruby Rose.

Having strong connections with the fishing network in the Philippines, the Jimenez family had been asking around as far as Mindanao, the family lawyer claimed.

Aguinaldo said he had personally informed the Barramedas of the Jimenez family’s search efforts, but "Ruby Rose’s relatives might have just forgotten about that."

The lawyer said the Jimenez family was fond of Ruby Rose and when the couple’s relationship was on the rocks, it was Ruby Rose’s father-in-law who tried to convince them to reconcile.

In an effort to prevent the escalation of the issue into a severe family feud, the Jimenez camp has asked for the Barramedas’ cooperation in looking for the "real culprits" in the crime.

"The incident is a sad thing. We are one with them in giving justice to Ruby Rose," Aguinaldo said. (See: Ex-actress Barrameda seeks justice for sister's killing)

Sympathy pours in

Ruby Rose's remains now lie at the Funeraria Paz in Sucat, Parañaque.

The Jimenez family said they would not trade accusations with the Barramedas, and instead, allow them to grieve privately.

In an interview with GMA’s "Unang Hirit," Rochelle expressed appreciation to all the friends, classmates, and colleagues of Ruby Rose who expressed their condolences.

She said she was surprised that even people she did not know showed up at the wake of her sister.

Ruby Rose’s remains were discovered on the day of her parents’ wedding anniversary last June 10. Her mother, Asuncion Barrameda, said her anniversary this year was so far the best one.

“Iyon ang pinakamasayang anibersaryo namin [dahil] sa regalong natanggap namin… Iyong anak namin matagal na naming hinihintay, at dumating na kahit sa ganoong sitwasyon [It was our best anniversary because we finally found our daughter, although she was in that state]," Asuncion said.

In the same interview, mother and daughter asked the Department of Social Welfare and Development to help them to get custody of Ruby Rose’s daughters.

The Jimenez family said they were willing to let the children visit the wake of their mother, but objected to the idea of the DSWD stepping into the matter and possibly getting custody over Ruby Rose's daughters.

"The DSWD cannot replace a parents. The girls' mother is gone and now they want to take them away from the father too?" - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/164805/Jimenezes-on-Barrameda-slay-This-is-a-frame-up
5 Marines killed in clash with Vagni captors

By Roel Pareño and Jaime Laude Updated June 14, 2009 12:00 AM

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=477414&publicationSubCategoryId=63

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – At least five Marines were killed while 12 others, including a member of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (SAF) and a civilian volunteer, were wounded after an encounter with Abu Sayyaf bandits holding an Italian Red Cross worker in Sulu, officials said yesterday.

The firefight erupted at about 9:20 a.m. in Barangay Sionugan, Indanan town when the combined forces of the Marines, SAF and the civilian emergency forces (CEF) encountered about 100 Abu Sayyaf bandits led by Albader Parad and Umbra Jumdail alias Dr. Abu Pula.

The government security forces came under heavy fire and grenades but managed to retaliate, according to Lt. Col. Stefani Cacho, spokesman of the Western Mindanao Command.

Police Director Felizardo Serapio, chief of the Directorate for Integrated Police Operation (DIPO) Western Mindanao, said there were reports that the Abu Sayyaf group suffered 11 casualties.

“The situation is very fluid. There was heavy fighting on the ground,” Serapio said.

The fierce clashes have brought to seven the number of government troops killed and 15 wounded since last Thursday’s encounter when the security forces caught up with the Abu Sayyaf group in Mt. Timahu.

Parad and Jumdail’s group are believed to be holding Italian Eugenio Vagni, the remaining volunteer of the three International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) abducted last Jan. 15 in Patikul town.

Vagni’s two other companions, Filipina Mary Jean Lacaba and Swiss Andreas Notter, were freed last April 2 and 18 in Indanan town and the provincial government of Sulu had given the military the go-signal for the rescue of Vagni.

Two Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) of the Marines were also immobilized
in the attack staged on a police and Marine convoy.

“They were treacherously fired upon. Despite sustaining heavy casualties from the initial hail of bullets from high-powered firearms and grenades, our security forces returned fire forthwith and engaged the enemies,” added Task Force ICRC spokesman Marine Lt. Col. Edgard Arevalo.

Prior to yesterday’s encounter, the Marines and SAF were out to conduct saturation drive within the Timahu complex.

On Thursday, two Marines and six Abu Sayyaf were killed as government security forces, out to rescue Vagni, attacked the terrorists’ lair in Timahu complex.

Among the Abu Sayyaf killed were two sons of Abu Jumdael and his grandson, who is the son of Parad from his (Jumdael’s) daughter Marina.

Meanwhile, the dead and wounded government troops were brought to the military’s trauma hospital inside the 3rd Marine Brigade headquarters in Busbus, Sulu prior to their transfer to Zamboanga City.

Another source in Sulu said yesterday that Vagni is still alive.

“He is just within the vicinity. Except for yesterday, he’s regularly contacting his family back in Italy,” the source said, adding that they have the ways and means to monitor Vagni’s text messages and telephone calls to his wife.

In a related development, Army troops killed 10 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) members in heavy fighting that separately broke out in Maguindanao on Friday, the military reported yesterday.

Fighting first occurred between elements of the Army’s 601st Brigade and about 100 MILF rebels at Barangay Kateman, Talayan town at about 11 a.m.

As the troops were about to subdue the rebels under the command of Ameril Umbra Kato after two hours of heavy fighting, heavy skirmishes between another group of MILF rebels and Army troops broke out in Barangay Ahan in Guindulungan town.

Twenty MILF rebels were also wounded in the encounter, the military said.

Tuesday, June 02, 2009

Medical group: Kho already being 'punished' for sex videos


MANILA, Philippines - Regardless of whether he will be punished or not by the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), controversial doctor Hayden Kho Jr. is already being chastised with loss of trust from his patients.

PMA spokesman Bu Castro said this Tuesday as he said the PMA is still looking into whether to sanction Kho for his sex videos that have been uploaded to the Internet.

“Ang kanyang paging duktor pa ginamit niya, nag-take advantage siya ng kanyang pagka-duktor para gawin ang kasalanang binibintang sa kanya, o yan ba pribado niyang gawain, di niya ginamit ang kanyang pagiging duktor sa ganyang bagay [Our investigation will focus on whether he used his status as a doctor to take advantage of the women]?" Castro said in an interview on dzXL radio.

But he said that even if the PMA cannot find enough bases to punish Kho, he already lost the trust of his patients.

“Yan ang dapat niyang asahan, wala nang magtitiwala sa kanya [He should expect that, the loss of trust from his patients]," he said.

Last month, the PMA said Kho faces a three-pronged probe over his sex videos posted online.

Castro said the PMA has formed a committee to look into the claims against Kho for conduct unbecoming of a doctor.

He admitted the PMA was “forced" to come up with its own investigation after noticing the furor caused by the sex video scandal.

For his part, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said Kho may face charges for violating the Anti-Wiretapping Law. - GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/163767/Medical-group-Kho-already-being-punished-for-sex-videos

DOH: Still no reason to panic despite rise in A(H1N1) cases


(Updated 9:25 a.m.) MANILA, Philippines - The rise in confirmed Influenza A(H1N1) cases to 21 as of Monday is still no cause for the public to panic, health authorities maintained Tuesday.

National Epidemiology Center head Dr. Eric Tayag said there is still no community-level outbreak in the Philippines, adding a four-level warning system is in place to deal with the problem.

"Wala tayong community-level outbreak [We have no community outbreak yet]. Pero may nilabas na gabay [but have issued guidelines] for Department of Health, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education at Technical and Educational Skills Development Authority – a response system in a scale of 1 to 4]," Tayag said in an interview on dzXL radio.

He also said that as of Tuesday morning, there is no case of A(H1N1) in schools.

Tayag said the only time schools would shut down is if there is a wide community-level outbreak.

"Kung malawak ang community-level outbreak, maraming iskwelahan [ang] maaring magsara [It is only when community-level outbreak is widespread that schools can close]," he said.


21 cases






On Monday, the Department of Health confirmed five more cases of A(H1N1) virus infection – bringing to 21 the number of people who have contracted the disease.

The DOH identified the new cases as a 40-year-old female and a 51-year-old male who got the virus after attending the wedding in Zambales where an infected Taiwanese mother and daughter were present.

The remaining three new confirmed cases were Filipinos who had come from the United States: a 19-year-old male, a 45-year-old male, and a 39-year-old female. [See table.]

The DOH added that it had recorded a total of 315 cases since it started monitoring possible virus infection on May 1. At least 262 patients in these cases had been cleared already and discharged while 32 others remain quarantined pending laboratory results.

In a related development on Monday night, the department said that 29 students in Nueva Ecija province are being monitored by health and school officials.

A report aired on QTV’s “News on Q" said the students came in close contact with a 19-year old female who just came from the United States with flu-like symptoms.

Alert system

The four-level warning system Tayag was talking about is the new alert system set up by the DOH and the DepEd.

The two government agencies said they hope the alert system would serve as a guideline on when schools can send students home in case the virus reaches their respective vicinities.

Like in regular Storm Signal warnings, the A(H1N1) alert levels start from Level 1 and peak at Level 4. When a Level 3 is declared in a specific school, the school superintendent is given the authority to suspend classes.

When the alert level goes up further by a notch to Level 4, the situation is elevated to the regional DepEd office and only a regional director is given the power to send students home. - with reports from Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/163764/DOH-Still-no-reason-to-panic-despite-rise-in-A(H1N1)-cases

1 soldier killed in NPA attack in Davao City


ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines – A government soldier was killed while another one was injured after communist rebels attacked a military post in southern Philippines before dawn Monday.

Captain Rose Maria Cristina Manuel, spokeswoman for the Army’s 10th Infantry Division, said at least eight New People’s Army (NPA) rebels were involved in the attack, which occurred at around 1 a.m. in the village of Catigan in Davao City’s Toril District.

“Two soldiers were wounded, but one of them died before reaching the hospital. We still don’t know if there enemies killed, but there is a pursuit operation going on to track down the NPA attackers," she said.

She said the soldiers were deployed in Toril following reports from villagers that NPA rebels were frequently spotted in the area.

“Field reports revealed that the NPA rebels are consistently seen in Toril area and exerting efforts to redeem their lost mass base. The organization of Barangay Defense System is pioneer in Toril District and it has been effective in solving peace and order problems," Manuel
said.

The Barangay Defense System is part of the military’s counter-insurgency program and is dubbed as the Integrated Area Community Public Safety Plan to monitor the movements of rebel groups. Many members of the Barangay Defense System are former rebels themselves. - Al Jacinto, GMANews.TV

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/163749/1-soldier-killed-in-NPA-attack-in-Davao-City

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