Philippines Mayor Vico Sotto Named Anti-Corruption Champion By US State Department

Pasig City Mayor Victor “Vico” Sotto is among the individuals named by the US State Department as ‘International Anticorruption Champions’.

Sotto is among the 12 honorees under the International Anti-corruption Champion Award.

The other honorees include the following:
Ardian Dvorani (Albania)
Diana Salazar (Ecuador)
Sophia Petrick (Federated States of Micronesia)
Juan Francisco Sandoval Alfaro (Guatemala)
Ibrahima Kalil Gueye (Guinea)
Anjalli Bhardwaj (India)
Dhuna Mohammed (Iraq)
Bolot Temirov (Kyrgz Republic)
Mustafa Abdullah Sanalla (Libya)
Francis Ben Kaifala (Sierra Leone)
and Ruslan Ryaboshapka (Ukraine)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the accolade recognizes individuals who have “worked tirelessly, often in the face of adversity, to defend transparency, combat corruption, and ensure accountability in their own countries.”

Sotto was described by the US body as a “standard-bearer for a new generation of Philippine politicians who prioritize anti-corruption and transparency initiatives in their election campaigns and in office.”

The award also highlights Sotto’s legacy as a young city councilor who defended the freedom of information legislation, allowing city residents to request documents without having to provide a justification – the first such law in the Metro Manila area.

“Sotto has sought to solidify his reputation as a fresh voice with a new, more transparent approach to governance,” it said.

Apart from that, Sotto was also recognized as a young mayor who has mandated that the value of all city government contracts be reduced by at least 10 percent, a move intended to reduce bribery in the awarding of contracts.

The administration of US President Joe Biden has emphasized the country’s commitment to truth, transparency, and accountability “is a mission that we must live at home and exemplify abroad.”

UAE As The First Arab Nation To Reach Mars

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed commend ‘Hope Probe’ team

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, honoured the Emirates Mars Mission “Hope Probe” team of more than 200 engineers on Tuesday in a special reception held during the ministerial retreat at Bab Al Shams.

The reception was held in recognition of the team’s relentless efforts over the past six years to successfully build and launch the Hope Probe that made history with its entry to the Red Planet’s orbit on February 9th, 2021, as the first-ever Arab interplanetary mission. The widely-celebrated probe, which will provide the first complete picture of the Martian atmosphere, placed the UAE as the first Arab nation, and the fifth nation in the world, to reach Mars.

The two-day ministerial retreat, chaired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, started on Tuesday to lay out a comprehensive development vision of the country for the next 50 years and harness the efforts, resources and capacities of all sectors to design new action models and plans to make the UAE among the best nations in the world. A strategic framework will be drafted, as part of the retreat, to lead the vital sectors of the UAE and determine the national priorities of the next 50 years.

The Milestone 

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum hailed the Hope Probe team for successfully leading the country’s most significant project that represents the Arab region. The historic achievement marks the UAE’s 50th anniversary as a milestone and paves the way for the next 50 years.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said, “Celebrating the Hope Probe team as part of the ministerial retreat is a message that our projects over the next 50 years will be as ambitious as the Emirates Mars Mission.” He added, “The Hope Probe is the best gift to dedicate to the people of the UAE on the 50th anniversary of our country.”

He noted that “the journey that 200 engineers took to design, build and launch the Hope Probe to Mars is part of the UAE’s journey towards the future.”

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said, “Millions of Arabs felt a sense of belonging and pride as they watched an Arab spacecraft, carrying the name of Hope, reach the farthest point they have ever been in the universe.”

Addressing the team, he said, “Today, our scientists and experts are the real champions who will drive the journey of our country towards further achievements, excellence and success.”

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum concluded, “our people are known for their humility and persistence. Their feet are on the ground, but their ambitions reach the sky.”

The Human Capital 

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed said, “The Hope Probe team is the wealth of our nation. They have worked tirelessly, and today, our country is reaping what they sow.” He added, “Our young people made us proud, raised our country’s flag to deep space and engraved the name of our nation in history.”

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed stressed, “Our goal was not only to reach Mars, but to empower our people with knowledgeand confidence and nurture capabilities to lead the country to the top.” ​ He noted, “The success of the Hope Probe team raised the ambitions of the next generation. With the willpower and determination of our people, the UAE will continue to makebigger achievements.”

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed added, “We start the journey of the next 50 years strong, with massive projects underway and a mission to prepare national expertise to lead the future.”

He said, “The UAE of the future will lead the region’s scientific and knowledge development. Our institutions are open for youth across the Arab world to be part of this journey.”

Addressing the team, he said, “Our meeting today carries a special meaning as it comes after you have achieved the hope that everyone was waiting for. You have made your country, your family, your region and the entire Arab world very proud.”

He added, “what your children and grandchildren will learn at school today will be different than what we have learned in the past. By achieving the dream that many countries have long aspired for, you have created a new history for your country and your children and drafted beautiful stories we will narrate for the next generation.”

The reception saw the presence of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre; H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; and H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, alongside dignitaries and officials.

The Journey of the Hope Probe 

The UAE made history on Feb. 9, 2021, with the successful arrival of the Hope Probe to Mars’ orbit to start its scientific mission to provide the first-ever complete picture of the Martian atmosphere.

Millions across the world witnessed the historical event, held at Burj Park, that marked the final exciting moments beforethe Hope Probe enters the Red Planet’s orbit. Major landmarks in the country and across the region turned red in celebration of the historic achievement.

A dazzling show on the façade of Burj Khalifa reviewed the journey of the probe that started as an idea during a 2013 cabinet retreat in Sir Baniyas Island to discuss ways to celebrate the country’s 50th anniversary. The space project was then adopted to capture the 50-year journey of the UAE.

In six years, young experts and scientists designed and manufactured the probe, in partnership with international universities and science institutions, in half the duration and cost of conventional Mars missions.

The critical moments of the mission, the Mars Orbit Insertion (MOI), had started at 7:30pm on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, UAE time, when the probe reversed and fired its six Delta V thrusters to rapidly reduce its speed from 121,000 km/h to 18,000 km/h. The deceleration, which burned half of the probe’s fuel, took 27 minutes until 7:57pm as the probe safely entered the capture orbit. At 8:08pm, the ground control station in Al Khawaneej received the first transmission of the Hope Probe from Mars’ orbit, signalling the success of the mission that placed the UAE as the first Arab nation, and the fifth worldwide, to reach Mars.

The probe’s entry to Mars’ orbit marks the end of four of the six stages of the seven-month space journey that spanned 493 million kilometres since its launch in July 20, 2020: launch, early operations, cruise and MOI. The probe is currently in the transition to science phase before it moves to the science phase and begins its mission to capture the first full picture of the Martian atmosphere. The probe, however, will capture its first picture of Mars in the first week of its arrival.

In the next few weeks, the team will be in daily contact with the probe from the ground control station at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Al Khawaneej.

After a period of testing and validation, a series of maneuvers will be performed to get the Hope Probe in the correct position to move into the Science Orbit.

The next stage in the Hope Probe’s journey is the transition from the Capture Orbit to an acceptable Science Orbit in preparation for its primary science operations. The rebooting of the probe’s systems can last for 45 days, while the radio signals will take from 11-22 minutes to travel from Hope to earth and back.

The last phase of the probe’s journey is set to begin in April 2020. The probe will officially enter the Science phase to complete the first-ever planet-wide, 24×7 picture of Mars’ atmospheric dynamics and weather daily, throughout all seasons for one full Martian year (687 earth days) until April 2023.

The probe, however, can be used for another two years for additional data collection.

The three science instruments installed on the probe will enable the collection of 1,000GB new Mars data, which will be shared for free with over 200 research centers.
Source: Filipino Times 

UAE Administers 84,573 Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine as of February 25, 2021

The Ministry of Health and Prevention has announced that 84,573 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered in the past 24 hours.

The total number of doses provided up to February 25, Thursday, stands at 5,846,036 with a rate of vaccine distribution of 59.11 doses per 100 people.

The vaccination drive is in line with the Ministry’s plan to provide the vaccine to all members of society and acquire herd immunity, which will help reduce the number of cases and control the spread of the virus.

Fil-Am Veteran Seeks Justice

Family of dead Fil-American veteran seeks justice after police knelt on his neck during arrest

Photo credit: John. L. Burris

The family of a Filipino-American veteran is seeking justice after officers from the Antioch Police Department in California allegedly huddled over his body and knelt on his neck for five minutes during the former’s mental health episode

It was discovered that the 30-year-old Angelo Quinto died while he was being put into detention.

On December 23, 2020, the family asked the police for assistance over an incident involving Angelo and his mental health-related issues. Quinto was reportedly showing erratic behavior during that day.

While he was being detained, Quinto lost consciousness and was brought to the hospital and later declared dead after three days.

The mother of Quinto said that he was pleading for his life during the incident. A video of the encounter was released by the family through their lawyer John Burris.

“There are a lot of issues wrong here,” Burris said. “The technique applied by officers. The failure to de-escalate. The jumping on his back, the putting into his neck by a knee. Given what we know, which is that we had a healthy young man in his mother’s arms. The police grabbed him. They themselves, their conduct, snuffed the life out of him. We see that not only as a violation of his civil rights, but it’s a violation of humanity, frankly.”

The video showed the police removing Quinto from the house where a pool of blood can be seen. The police did not immediately acknowledge Quinto’s death and said that it’s still under investigation.

Journalists Doris Bigornia Undergo Open Heart Surgery

Veteran broadcaster Doris Bigornia has suffered a heart attack over the weekend and will undergo an open heart surgery according to his radio show partner and ABS-CBN News anchor Alvin Elchico.

“Bago po tayo mag-umpisa dahil marami po kasi ang nagtatanong so, nagpaalam po ako sa pamilya ni Mutya ng Masa Doris Bigornia na sabihin po sa inyo, pinapasabi lang po, ang Mutya ng Masa, siya po’y inatake sa puso noong Linggo, papuntang Lunes,” Elchico said.

“Siya po’y sinugod sa ospital at ngayon po’y nasa ICU. Ka-kaailanganin po ng ano eh, open-heart surgery. So ang pamilya po ay humihingi po ng panalangin, so sa ngalan po ng pamilya ni Doris Bigornia, ang Mutya ng Masa, kami po sa DZMM Teleradyo ay humihingi po ng inyong panalangin,” he added.

Elchico revealed that Bigornia is conscious and has talked to him through the phone.

“Ipagadasal po natin na mapagtagumpayan po ni Doris ang susuungin po niyang pagsubok kasi hanggang ngayon (nasa ICU). Nakaka-usap ko siya, conscious po si Doris, pero kakailanganin po niya ‘yong open heart surgery pagkatapos po ng atake sa puso,” he further said.

Some of Bigornia’s colleagues are asking for prayers and support for the veteran journalist.

“Please join us in praying for our very good friend @DorisBigornia as she goes thru heart surgery after suffering a heart attack. Doray, kaya mo yan. Maraming nagmamahal sa yo. Fighting Doray!!!! We love you,” reporter MJ Felipe said. 

Covid-19 United Arab Emirates Vaccination Drive Reaches 44.89% Of Total Population

The UAE has achieved injecting the COVID-19 vaccine to 44.89% of its citizens and residents, translating to 3,480,415 of the UAE’s entire population.

The National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) also furthered that the jab has already been administered to 57.66% of the total elderly population.

To date, over 5,668,264 doses have been injected with a rate of 57.31 per 100 people. In addition, the country has also conducted 29 million COVID-19 tests in its efforts to continuously monitor and track COVID-19 cases.

“When the majority of the population becomes immune to an infectious disease, this will lead to the indirect protection for people who are not immunized against this disease in the community, due to the limited spread of the disease,” said the NCEMA in an announcement. 

The UAE’s ongoing vaccination drive is in line with the Ministry of Health and Prevention’s plan to provide the vaccine to all members of society and acquire herd immunity, which will help reduce the number of cases and control the spread of the virus. 

“We would like to confirm the effectiveness of the vaccines that have been approved in the country and that they are safe, especially for the elderly and people with chronic diseases, so we advise and encourage everyone to take the vaccine, as it is our safe way to recover,” said NCEMA in an announcement.

Philippines Complete Requirements For AstraZeneca Vaccines

The Philipine government has submitted all the requirements needed for the AstraZeneca vaccines, which will be supplied by the COVAX facility of the World Health Organization.

The COVAX Facility is an initiative that aims to provide its member-countries an equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines.

“I also want to update you that the Philippines has met all the requirements necessary for accessing the AstraZeneca vaccines,” WHO Country Representative Rabindra Abeyasinghe said during a briefing with the Department of Health.

The WHO official confirmed around 5.5 million to 9.2 million doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine have been set aside for the country.

The government expects the delivery of AstraZeneca from WHO within the first quarter of the year.

“What we are now looking at is accelerating delivery of those AstraZeneca vaccines, at least a part of that shipment to the Philippines,” Abeyasinghe added.

“I understand that the Department of Health has supplied all the letters necessary to the COVAX initiative to access the early rollout of those AstraZeneca vaccines,” the WHO official said.

He also said that AstraZeneca did no longer demand for more documents before their vaccine delivery, unlike Pfizer.

“We are optimistic that before the end of this week, we will hear from the COVAX initiative on likely delivery dates for AstraZeneca vaccines to the Philippines,” he said.

AstraZeneca will use its facility in South Korea dedicated to exclusively manufacture the COVAX Facility’s vaccine requirements.

“And what is earmarked for the Philippines will be coming from South Korea. So, we still remain optimistic that we will receive the AstraZeneca vaccines within the timeframes that we were talking about,” he said. 

Dubai Police Urge To Report Covid-19 Violations

Dubai Police continues to urge the public to report violations of COVID-19 guidelines in the emirate’s efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Authorities state that any resident can report such incidents by dialing 901 and pressing option number 8

They can also report the violations through the smart app of the Dubai Police.

A video posted on Al Bayan shows how the police respond to reports regarding violations of COVID-19 guidelines.

In the video, a caller got it touch with the police representative about a violation he saw at one restaurant. The police then assured the caller that they will take immediate action, after asking for further details regarding the restaurant and the incident that the caller saw. 

Dubai Police reveal that majority of the reports they receive daily comprise of violation reports at restaurants, salons, and hotels. 

Authorities remind the public that the 901 hotline is accessible 24/7 for non-emergencies such as these COVID-19 violation reports. They hope that the public will continue reporting similar incidents to help the emirate get rid of the COVID-19 threat.

DOLE in talks with UK, Germany for OFW deployment, requests for COVID-19 vaccines

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello is requesting the United Kingdom and Germany to provide COVID-19 vaccines to Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) if they want to hire more Filipino healthcare workers.

In a Senate hearing last week, Bello said that the UK and Germany are appealing to the government to remove the cap of 5,000 healthcare workers to be deployed to their countries.

International Labor Affairs Bureau Director Alice Visperas said that Bello already set the Philippine conditions before requesting the President to reconsider the cap.

“Nilagay natin don na mreview yung 2002 at 2003 agreement with the UK may dalawang bilateral agreement atyo don at matagal na siya. Yung pangalawa yung hiling na vaccine na mabigyan tayo sa Pilipinas lalo na sa ating mga OFWs,” Visperas said.

The labor official added that Bello only wants to ensure that OFWs will not be left behind if countries will demand for vaccinated workers since the country has yet to roll out its mass vaccination program.

“Importante sa mga OFW na papaalis karamihan sa mga bansa ngayon na kumukuha ng worker gusto na nila may vaccine na yung kinukuha ng worker at ito ang gusto ni Labor Sec Bello na magkaroon ng vaccine ang OFWs,” she added.

Visperas said that there is no figure on how many COVID-19 vaccines Bello has requested for OFWs but it should be around the 600,000 figure of displaced OFWs. 

Sara Duterte warns about people soliciting money for her 2022 presidential run

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte slammed information that some people or groups are soliciting money for her supposed presidential run by 2022.

“Nakarating po sa aking ang balita na may ilang indibidwal na humihingi ng pera mula sa ibang tao at ibat ibang mga grupo kabilang na diyan ang ibang mga negosyante para raw gamitin na campaign fund sa aking pagtakbo bilang presidente,” Sara said.

The presidential daughter strongly denied that she gave the go signal to do such moves.

“Wala po itong pahintulot mula sa akin, huwag po kayong maniwala huwag po kayong magpaloko ito po ay scam,” Sara said.

The Davao City mayor said that the money that will be raised from these efforts can be used in another individual or group’s interest.

“Magagamit lang ang perang malilikom sa fundraising na ito sa pansariling interes ng mga taong nasa likod nito. Inuulit ko, wag po kayong magbigay ng pera. ‘Wag kayong magpaloko,” Sara said.

Sara previously wanted her name to be removed from presidential surveys after she topped the list of those who may win the 2022 presidential race.

“The Presidential Elections of 2022 is farthest from the minds of many Filipinos as we focus firmly on how to survive the economic and humanitarian crisis still in front of us,” Duterte said in a text message to reporters.

Duterte garnered 26% of the preference rate in the latest Pulse Asia survey.

Senator Grace Poe and losing Vice Presidential candidate Bongbong Marco are tied for second place with 14% of the respondents.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno is also among the top choices as the next president if elections will be held on November 23.

Duterte captured the majority of respondents from Visayas and Mindanao with 29% and 58% respectively.

UK’s Most Wanted Extradited From The UAE

Photo credit: CHESHIRE POLICE

One of Britain’s most wanted men was extradited from the UAE on Friday, three years after he left the UK for Dubai.

Leon Cullen, 33, was extradited to Britain by officers from the National Extradition Unit after he was charged with being the head of a crime group responsible for supplying firearms and drugs.

He was arrested and detained in Dubai last January 2020 after a joint operation carried out by UAE police and Britain’s National Crime Agency, along with Interpol.

In a statement on Cheshire Police website, Assistant Chief Constable Matt Burton, from Cheshire police, thanked the UAE authorities and all those involved for their hard work and commitment to bring Cullen back to the UK.

Deputy director Tom Dowdall, head of NCA International, also emphasized the assistance of the UAE that enabled them to locate and apprehend him.

“This type of global law enforcement cooperation has never been more important to tackling serious and organised crime affecting the UK and I would like to thank the UAE authorities for all their work which led to Cullen’s arrest and extradition,” Dowdall said.

On Saturday, Cullen appeared at Liverpool Magistrates Court as he was charged with offenses including conspiracy to supply firearms, ammunition and Class A drugs.

He will again appear at Liverpool Crown Court on March 22.

Student And Teacher In Abu Dhabi Required To Undergo Swab Test Every 14 Days

Swab tests are required every 14 days for all Abu Dhabi private school pupils aged 12 and over who have chosen face-to-face learning.

This is under the new regulations issued by the Department of Education and Knowledge.

Teachers and staff are likewise instructed to undergo swab tests every two weeks in order to be permitted on school premises, as instructed by the Abu Dhabi’s private education regulator.

The swab tests will be provided free of charge on specific dates for each school, at designated screening centers.

However, those pupils with special needs are exempt from this.

Upon arrival at the testing center, teachers and pupils should present a valid Emirates ID and a dedicated school code.
The frequency of the test was only announced this week.