24 Oras Express: June 03, 2024 [HD]

GMA Integrated News

Narito ang mga maiinit na balita sa 24 Oras Express ngayong Lunes, June 03, 2024.   -Bamban Mayor ALice Guo at 2 iba pa, pinatawan ng preventive suspension ng Ombudsman   -Bamban Mayor ALice Guo, tinatanggap ang ipinataw sa kanya ng Office of the Ombudsman na anim na buwang suspensyon   -Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, personal na nagpasalamat kay PBBM sa suporta ng Pilipinas sa Ukraine   -Umano'y pagtutok ng baril ng mga sakay ng BRP Sierra Madre sa China Coast Guard, itinanggi ng AFP   -Presyo ng luya sa ilang palengke, umabot sa P300/Kg; iba pang gulay, nagmahal din   -7 tauhan ng PCG, inireklamo sa DOJ ng kaanak ng nasawing apprentice seaman noong Nobyembre   -Umiiral ang Monsoon Break, dahilan para maranasan ang matinding init at alinsangan   -COMELEC, naghahanda na sa unang Parliamentary Elections ng BARMM; nagbabala sa posibleng iregularidad na dapat bantayan   -Yellow alert status, nakataas sa Luzon grid mula 6PM-10PM   -Pres. Zelenskyy sa isyu sa WPS: kailangan magkaisa para depensahan ang teritoryo   -Paglipat ng P47.6-B na pondo mula DOH papuntang DBM nang walang MOA, inusisa sa Kamara; giit ni dating Sec. Duque III, legal ito   -Kanlaon Volcano, nagbuga ng 5,000-M na plume    24 Oras is GMA Network’s flagship newscast, anchored by Mel Tiangco, Vicky Morales and Emil Sumangil. It airs on GMA-7 Mondays to Fridays at 6:30 PM (PHL Time) and on weekends at 5:30 PM. For more videos from 24 Oras, visit http://www.gmanews.tv/24oras.   #GMAIntegratedNews #24Oras #BreakingNews   Breaking news and stories from the Philippines and abroad: GMA Integrated News Portal: http://www.gmanews.tv   Facebook: / gmanews TikTok: / gmanews Twitter: / gmanews Instagram: / gmanews   GMA Network Kapuso programs on GMA Pinoy TV: https://gmapinoytv.com/subscribe

Transcript

00:00 [music]

00:03 Live from the GMA Network Center,

00:06 20 years of news, 24 hours.

00:10 [music]

00:12 Good evening, Luzon Visayas and Mindanao.

00:16 The Ombudsman has suspended the suspension of

00:21 Bamban Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo and two other officials of their municipality for six months.

00:26 This is in accordance with the DILG's administrative complaint

00:30 regarding the illegal operation of the tarlac fire that was initiated last March.

00:34 It was Guora himself who applied for a clearance to build the houses

00:39 in the land developer that he is the president.

00:42 Joseph Morong was the one who was involved.

00:44 [music]

00:47 Until six months of suspension without salary.

00:50 This is what the Ombudsman has ordered against Bamban Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo,

00:54 Municipal Officer Aden Sigua and Business Permit and Licensing Officer Edwin Ocampo

01:00 for violating the illegal operation of the tarlac fire in Laguarna.

01:03 The DILG's administrative complaint was denied to the Ombudsman

01:07 for violating the illegal tarlac fire operation of Hongseng and Sunhuan

01:12 in the land of Bawfo Land Development Inc. where Guo is the president.

01:17 On March 13, the Bawfo was raided by the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission

01:22 where the operation was discovered.

01:24 According to the DILG, Guo was the one who applied for a clearance to build the buildings of Bawfo

01:29 and the negotiators invited him there in 2019.

01:32 Guo also faced the Bawfo to ask for a letter of no objection to the local government

01:38 when he was not yet the mayor.

01:39 The company also has a 50 percent share in the stock,

01:42 even though Guo said he sold the stocks when he won the mayoralty in 2022.

01:47 After becoming mayor, he gave the business permit to the operation of the tarlac fire of Hongseng

01:53 even though his license was already canceled and the company Sunhuan was involved.

01:58 According to the DILG, the sale of Guo's shares was only simulated

02:02 and there are still shares in Bawfo.

02:05 Even though the PAG Corps has a cease and desist order against Sunhuan,

02:09 he did not cancel his business permit.

02:12 According to Ocampo, due to the issue of the permit to Sunhuan, even though it's not complete,

02:18 the company will continue to sign the purchase of the land of Bawfo.

02:21 Because of this, the members of the Sangguniang Bayan investigated

02:26 and allowed Sunhuan to operate.

02:28 According to the DILG, Guo said that Ocampo and Siguan can do their job

02:34 regarding the implementation of the requirements of Sunhuan.

02:37 Under the order of Ombudsman Samuel Martirez, signed on May 31,

02:42 there is strong evidence that shows guilt of responsibility,

02:46 which can be the reason for their removal from the office.

02:49 The remaining position can affect the investigation that will be conducted on them.

02:54 The order was immediately executed.

02:57 Ombudsman ordered the preventive suspension against Mayor Guo and two others

03:02 so that they will not be influenced.

03:04 The investigation will be conducted by the Ombudsman on the complaint filed against them by the DILG.

03:10 Senator Riza Ontiveros, who is investigating Guo in the Senate,

03:14 said that Guo should be suspended.

03:17 He hopes that not everything will be caught because they have information

03:21 that Guo is preventing the investigation after the raid on Pogo in Bamban.

03:25 It's clear that Guo has a connection with Pogo that is behind the hacking and smuggling.

03:31 For GMA Integrated News, Joseph Morong, NKTK 24 Horas.

03:36 Bamban Mayor Alice Guo is accepting the 6-month suspension of the office of the Ombudsman.

03:46 In a Facebook post, Guo said that he is ready to help to ensure the truth and justice.

03:54 This is also a chance for him to clarify the rules against him.

03:59 The Mayor said that he is not guilty and that he is serving the truth.

04:04 He will continue to defend his integrity and humanity.

04:09 In a separate statement, Guo stated that the role of the LGU is limited to the administration

04:16 just like the giving of business permits.

04:19 Guo also stated that the PAG-CORP has authority in the Pogo operations.

04:25 Meanwhile, the suspended Business Permit and Licensing Officer Edwin Ocampo also refused to give a statement.

04:32 GMA Integrated News is trying to get the attention of the Municipal Officer Aiden Sigua.

04:39 Personal thanks to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to President Marco

04:47 for the support of the Philippines in Ukraine in the middle of its invasion in Russia.

04:52 Zelensky also invited the Philippines to the upcoming Peace Summit in Switzerland on June 15.

04:59 Ivan Mayerina was present.

05:01 Since the Russian occupation of some parts of Ukraine in February 2022,

05:10 the Philippines supported the Sixth Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly

05:14 recognizing the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

05:19 This is its support.

05:21 Personal thanks to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky

05:25 for his visit to President Marco in Malacanang this morning.

05:29 We are very thankful to be in your country which supports Ukraine, our territorial integrity and sovereignty.

05:38 Thank you so much for your big word and clear position about us,

05:44 about this Russian occupation of our territories.

05:48 And thank you for your support in UN Nations with your resolutions.

05:56 We are very honored that you found the time to pass by the Philippines.

06:02 I know that the crisis in your country has occupied all of your attention and all of your time.

06:10 And it is a great pleasure to meet with you to discuss some of the issues that are common to our two countries

06:19 and hopefully find ways forward for both of us together.

06:25 Marco and Zelensky both attended the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore this Saturday

06:29 where leaders and defense officials from other countries were also present.

06:33 Support from other countries is looking for Zelensky for the peace summit that will be held in Switzerland on June 15.

06:39 It is far from finding a peaceful resolution in more than two years of war

06:44 that has already had a big impact on the economy of many countries.

06:47 Malacanang confirmed that the Philippines is already in the process of a peace summit.

06:51 But some countries like China, which is a well-known ally of Russia, declared that they will not attend the summit.

06:57 As a sign of support for Ukraine, President Bongbong Marcos said that the Philippines will send mental health workers

07:03 for the soldiers and civilians who are still facing the war there.

07:07 The Philippine Embassy in the Philippines will open tomorrow.

07:10 It is expected that the relationship between the two countries will be even stronger.

07:14 For GMA Integrated News, Ivan Meirina, KTOTALK, 24 Hours.

07:19 The AFP could deny the Chinese Coast Guard's plan to shoot the vehicles of the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal.

07:31 Despite this, the Armed Forces of the Philippines are adamant that our soldiers have a right to self-defense there.

07:38 Chino Gaston was also there.

07:43 This video was captured by the China Coast Guard on May 19 in the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal,

07:50 which is inside the Exclusive Economic Zone or EEZ of the Philippines.

07:54 They said that the BRP Sierra Madre was receiving an airdrop supply when they arrived.

08:00 The China Coast Guard said that they can see in the video that they are being shot by several vehicles of the BRP Sierra Madre.

08:08 According to AFP Chief of Staff General Romeo Bronner Jr., this is not true.

08:13 We are denying. We talked to our soldiers in the BRP Sierra Madre.

08:18 They are not shooting the Chinese.

08:22 They did not raise their weapons to shoot the Chinese.

08:25 They are just holding it because of that right to self-defense.

08:31 Aside from the right for the soldiers to hold their weapons in a military ship, the rubber boats of the Chinese Coast Guard are getting too close.

08:39 The Chinese are getting too close to our BRP Sierra Madre.

08:45 We have rules of engagement that we are following.

08:49 If they see that there are threats, they have the right to defend themselves.

08:57 We have to remember that the BRP Sierra Madre is a commissioned Navy vessel.

09:04 Therefore, it is authorized to have weapons, cruiser weapons and individual weapons of our soldiers.

09:12 The Philippines is protesting the actions of the China Coast Guard.

09:16 One of our drops was confiscated by the Chinese.

09:21 What they did was to use their rubber boats or their rigs.

09:27 They took us first.

09:29 They confiscated our supplies.

09:32 They opened it and checked what's inside.

09:36 They saw that it's just food.

09:38 It's a ball.

09:40 It's a sachet of coffee and other food supplies.

09:45 They threw it in the sea.

09:47 We are trying to get the Chinese Embassy to declare what the AFP said.

09:52 For GMA Integrated News, Chino Gaston was arrested 24 hours.

09:57 The price of meat is too high.

10:01 Each kilo of sautéed ginger is around 300 pesos.

10:06 The price of vegetables is also increasing.

10:09 Maki Pulido was arrested.

10:14 You just want to eat tinola but you can't afford ginger.

10:18 Who would have thought that ginger would cost 300 pesos per kilo in their family?

10:24 It's a lot even for a small one.

10:26 One small one like this.

10:27 How much is it?

10:28 36.

10:30 Why is it expensive?

10:32 For a ginger, yes.

10:33 It's 36 pesos.

10:35 How much is that?

10:36 I look at the prices of the good ones.

10:42 Before 30 pesos, maybe it's 3 times more.

10:46 It's a lot.

10:47 Last two weeks,

10:49 the farmers market in Quezon City said that the price of ginger is increasing every day.

10:54 From 180 pesos before, it's now 300 pesos per kilo this morning.

11:00 That's why Remi's store is now only selling 10 kilos from 25 kilos before

11:05 because the sales are not enough.

11:08 The sales are not enough.

11:12 It's not like before.

11:13 If it's cheap, it's expensive.

11:15 The sales are not enough.

11:16 Even if the price of ginger is falling in the farmers market,

11:19 it's hard to believe the price of ginger has increased.

11:22 It's only now that the price of ginger is increasing.

11:25 Before, it was only 190 pesos.

11:26 Now, it's 200 pesos.

11:27 When the price of ginger started to rise,

11:29 Mara started to sell imported ginger.

11:31 It's cheaper by 20 pesos per kilo.

11:34 But because there's no available supply of imported ginger,

11:37 they're not selling it.

11:39 It's expensive.

11:40 Our boss can't afford to buy it.

11:43 Bantay Bigas said that the problem with ginger is just like other products like onions.

11:49 Traders are buying it cheaply during the harvest season

11:52 and will sell it if the supply is not enough.

11:55 The system is still the same.

11:57 The traders who are able to buy ginger

12:00 have post-harvest facilities and cold storage.

12:04 That's why they can afford to raise the price.

12:07 But ginger is not the only thing that's expensive compared to last week.

12:11 In the farmers market,

12:12 for lowland or highland vegetables,

12:14 the price of vegetables has increased by 20 to 30 pesos.

12:18 Estavillo said that because of El Nino,

12:20 many farmers were unable to plant vegetables.

12:23 Because their crops were destroyed,

12:26 they're really back to basics.

12:29 They're asking for compensation and help from the government

12:33 so that they can choose their crops.

12:36 We're still trying to get permission from the Department of Agriculture about this.

12:41 For GMA Integrated News, Mackie Pulido reporting for 24 Hours.

12:45 The Philippine Coast Guard complained to the Justice Department

12:51 about the arrest of an apprentice seaman during a training in November.

12:56 The victims' relatives were angry.

12:58 There's a video of the victim jumping before he was stabbed.

13:03 That's what Salima Refran is talking about.

13:06 During the Water Search and Rescue or WASAR training

13:17 of the Philippine Coast Guard in Cavite on November 16,

13:20 the dreams of the apprentice seaman, Mori Caguay, came to an end.

13:24 [indistinct chatter]

13:30 More than six months after he was stabbed,

13:33 his family already went to the Department of Justice.

13:36 Along with the NBI, they filed a complaint of reckless imprudence

13:40 resulting in homicide and violation of the Anti-Hazing Law

13:43 against seven PCG personnel,

13:46 who were trained and officially trained in the profession.

13:50 In the video, Caguay was already floating in the sea before he was stabbed.

13:56 When I saw the video of what his terrorists did,

14:00 it's not human.

14:02 They waited for the body to float.

14:04 That's what hurts me.

14:06 They were there. Why didn't they target them?

14:09 The lack of oxygen in the brain

14:11 is a consequence of the drowning of Caguay,

14:13 the cause of death of Caguay, based on an NBI autopsy.

14:16 I wish we could use the justice system for Mori.

14:21 Not just for Mori, but for other trainees

14:26 who didn't go through the necessary process.

14:31 There should be no casualties.

14:33 The complaints will go through the evaluation of the prosecutors

14:37 before they are sent to the preliminary investigation.

14:40 According to the Philippine Coast Guard,

14:42 their men will face the complaint.

14:44 We will face it.

14:46 Of course, we have sympathy for our men.

14:49 No one wants this.

14:51 But hopefully, whatever the consequences of the NBI's case,

14:56 I think this will continue to be a case.

15:01 But as I told you, our obligation is to care for our men

15:05 and help them in the law and regulation.

15:09 For now, several Coast Guard units are allowed to conduct WSAR training.

15:15 According to the Coast Guard, this is now restricted.

15:17 According to a review made in the protocols for this,

15:21 the response times should be faster for any incident.

15:26 For JMA Integrated News, I'm Nymara Fran,

15:29 for 24 Hours.

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17:15 Comelec will be discussing possible violations or irregularities that must be monitored.

17:21 Sandra Aguinaldo is live.

17:23 On May 12, 2025, the Comelec will not only discuss national and local elections,

17:33 but also the first parliamentary elections of the Moro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM.

17:40 Comelec gathered various parties in BARMM for the Multi-Party Democracy Summit.

17:46 Here, Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia will discuss possible irregularities that must be monitored.

17:53 "Vote-buying, terrorism, like violence.

17:57 They will put the vote box next to the Mayor's house.

18:02 They will burn the schools so that you cannot vote there.

18:05 That is what is happening, and it is happening again and again, especially in Moro.

18:11 We will not allow all of that."

18:14 Garcia will also discuss...

18:16 "We will never hesitate to use the full powers of the Comelec under the Constitution

18:20 to ensure that no one will be sacrificed and everyone will be able to vote."

18:24 He is one of the two acting governors of Maguindanao del Norte

18:28 and Military Chief of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

18:32 "Our assurance is that if anyone wants to create trouble, we will not participate in that.

18:37 We will invoke the principle of Islam on this because fraud, rigged, and all kinds of fraudulent is against Islam."

18:46 BARMM also highlighted the implementing rules and regulations of the Bangsamoro Electoral Code,

18:53 including the provision against turncoatism or the transfer of parties.

18:59 Under this, the party of the mayor of a candidate must remain in the party while sitting in his seat.

19:07 If not, he can leave his seat.

19:10 The Comelec also reiterated the use of artificial intelligence

19:15 to spread misinformation regarding the election,

19:19 not just in BARMM, but throughout the country.

19:23 For GMA Integrated News, Sandra Aguinaldo, for Tutok 24 Horas.

19:29 At this time, until 10 p.m. later tonight,

19:33 the Luzon grid is under yellow alert

19:36 because of the low supply of electricity.

19:40 It is possible that some plants will return to full capacity this week.

19:46 But will that be enough?

19:48 Ian Cruz was on the spot.

19:49 This Saturday afternoon until tonight,

19:55 Grace's family experienced a few hours of power outage in Pasong Tomo, Quezon City.

20:00 The children were suffering from the high temperature.

20:05 They hope that the brownout will not happen again.

20:08 They are pitiful if there is no electricity.

20:11 We can endure it, the adults and the elderly, but the children...

20:17 They cannot handle the heat.

20:19 They cannot handle the heat.

20:21 And there are also the elderly.

20:23 They are among the 2 million customers of Meralco

20:26 affected by the rotational brownout in NCR,

20:29 Central Luzon and Calabarzon

20:31 because of the red alert status of the Luzon grid this weekend.

20:35 The northern Luzon and Bicol region are also not safe from the brownout.

20:40 Today, under the announcement of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines,

20:43 the Luzon grid is again under yellow alert status

20:46 from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.

20:49 It will continue from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m.

20:52 This is the result of the low supply of electricity in the Luzon grid.

20:56 The rotational brownout is not expected to be yellow alert.

20:59 But the low supply may be returned to the red alert

21:02 if the demand suddenly increases,

21:04 the result is still the hot weather or there is a power plant.

21:08 Meralco has already advised its big customers

21:12 that it is better to use their own power generator or green energy source

21:16 in case of rising to the red alert status.

21:19 For now, 16 power plants are not working in Luzon.

21:23 According to the DOE, there is also a limitation on the outages of electricity plants

21:28 based on the false information from the Energy Regulatory Commission.

21:31 If they violate this, then of course they have to face the penalties

21:35 to be imposed by the Energy Regulatory Commission.

21:38 But maybe some plants will be able to return this week

21:41 to strengthen the supply of electricity.

21:43 Six plants are working but the capacity is reduced

21:47 and they are continuing to work to return to full capacity.

21:50 Maybe the number of Luzon hydro power plants will increase

21:53 but not yet in the level of water to run these even in the rain.

21:58 The Department of Energy is responsible for using electricity

22:04 to ensure that we can cash in any available electricity in our grid.

22:10 This will not only help our system,

22:12 but also reduce the cost of electricity.

22:18 For GMA Integrated News, Ian Cruz, in Katutok 24 Hours.

22:22 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky believes

22:27 that the Ukraine and the Philippines should unite to defend their territory

22:31 against the occupying forces.

22:34 In Katutok, Maris Umali.

22:39 He is the first to visit the Philippines.

22:42 The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has not stayed in the country for 12 hours.

22:48 He is worried that he will not be able to visit the beautiful Philippines.

22:52 I saw people, people are wearing warm in the hotel,

22:57 in the palace and in the streets.

23:00 I saw him, just smiling.

23:02 Although the Ukraine is in the middle of the war,

23:05 President Volodymyr Zelensky still deserves to visit our country

23:10 because this is how he values the voice of the Philippines and the whole region

23:15 in the matter of peace and freedom.

23:18 He also came here personally to invite President Bombom Marcos

23:23 to the upcoming peace summit of Ukraine,

23:25 which will be held in Switzerland this June 15.

23:28 It was very important directly to invite the President,

23:31 directly to speak with him about the details of what's going on on the battlefield,

23:36 what Russia brought with this war to our land, all this crisis.

23:42 And of course, for us it's very important not to give Russia a possibility to influence Asia.

23:48 We are preparing our steps to peace,

23:50 and of course for us it's very important that the Philippines

23:54 really support our territorial integrity and sovereignty.

24:00 Now we are starting our peace summit,

24:03 and we are trying to unite all the countries

24:05 to give strong message from all the world to Russia, stop the war.

24:09 Just a few moments ago, during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore,

24:13 President Zelensky announced his decision

24:16 to stop Russia and China from visiting the so-called summit.

24:21 You said Russia and China are trying to undermine your peace summit in Switzerland this month.

24:28 Do you think Russia and China are afraid that the summit would become such a huge success

24:33 that it could undermine their global influence, and how so?

24:37 Yes, because it's a pity that China joined to Russia

24:43 and now helps them to push the leaders not to participate in the peace summit.

24:50 We've been in shock really, because we count on all the world,

24:55 we are open to every country, except an enemy, of course, except Russia.

25:00 But I think this is a surprise for Russia and their allies,

25:06 that for today we have the confirmation from 107 countries,

25:11 and this is a huge result.

25:13 I think that Russia counted that nobody will attend the summit,

25:17 and nobody will participate us,

25:20 but you see that really mostly the world is on the side of peace.

25:24 He said that he will be able to bring to his country what is happening in the Philippines

25:29 amid China's harassment of our ships in the West Philippine Sea.

25:33 And that's why we have to hold the situation,

25:37 and we have to be together with very strong and clean position

25:40 that nobody can occupy your territory, nobody.

25:44 I think that there are a lot of similar things and a lot of challenging challenges.

25:51 That's why we spoke with the president that now we need unity,

25:57 because if Ukraine falls down, if Russia will occupy us totally,

26:03 this war, we will see this war in other continents.

26:07 And it can be in your direction, in your region.

26:11 And it's a big tragedy, a lot of casualties.

26:17 If we will stay strong, it means that it will give very important signal to other countries

26:23 not to try even to think how to occupy other independent countries.

26:29 Ukraine is considered a small country compared to Russia,

26:33 but you are still successfully standing up against Russia.

26:37 What kind of lesson can the Philippines learn from your experience,

26:41 especially with all these tensions in the West Philippine Sea

26:45 and all the bullying that we've been experiencing from China?

26:49 When this war began, Russia was the country which is almost four times bigger.

26:58 But the lesson is that if you are on your territory,

27:04 if you are in unity between people, government, soldiers,

27:10 I mean everybody will defend your house.

27:15 The world saw the resilience of our people.

27:20 And that's why my message to you, of course we wish you only peace,

27:25 but you have to be ready and to think about defending shield for the country.

27:32 When asked what makes him strong despite the power of Russia?

27:36 Yes, moral is good.

27:38 I think that Ukrainians are still strong because we are right,

27:43 because we are with a very honest position.

27:46 We are on our land, in our house, with our lovely children,

27:50 and we will stay till the peace will come.

27:55 This is what you want to tell the Filipino people.

27:58 Yes. Thank you so much, first of all, for having us.

28:03 Thank you that you are supporting Ukraine and support peace in Ukraine.

28:07 And Ukraine will never forget on which side you are now.

28:13 Historically, I think you are on the side of truth, on our side,

28:18 on the side of truth, on the side of peace.

28:21 Thank you so much, Mr. President, for this time.

28:24 And it is such an honor to be interviewing you this morning.

28:27 Honor to me too. Thank you. Thank you so much. God bless you.

28:30 For GMA Integrated News, Maris Umali, Nakatuto, 24 hours.

28:35 On camera, former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III,

28:40 regarding the government's expenses during the pandemic.

28:45 Including the transfer of funds, the expensive testing kits and loans.

28:53 The answer of the former minister in the appointment of Jonathan Andal.

29:01 I'm sorry, let's be friends. Don't make us go around.

29:06 Some congressmen insisted on former Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

29:11 Who decided to transfer the controversial 47.6 billion pesos of funds

29:17 of the Department of Health or DOH to PSDBM or Procurement Services of the Department of Budget and Management

29:23 during 2020 to buy COVID-19 supplies without a MOA or Memorandum of Agreement.

29:29 This is unauthorized by the former President Duterte. Correct.

29:36 The transfer was precisely effected and approved by the IATF-NTF and endorsed to the President.

29:48 The question is, did you unilaterally decide to transfer 47.6 billion to PSDBM?

29:57 No is the answer. I'm just complying with the rule of the PSDBM.

30:06 Duque III is a defense expert on supplies like PPE or personal protective equipment.

30:12 That's why they rely on the expertise of the DBM and its network of suppliers

30:16 in finding PPE that healthcare workers need.

30:20 That's why Duque III was against the transfer of funds from DOH to DBM.

30:26 I would like to reiterate that it is within my authority to effect the transfer because of the public health emergency.

30:36 The controversial funds are the MECHA.

30:39 That's why the ombudsman ordered to file a complaint against Duque and the former Budget Undersecretary Christopher Lau

30:45 because the transfer of funds was illegal. Duque has appealed against it.

30:49 The former Health Secretary, Iloilo Rep. Janet Garin, also fired Duque for the overpriced testing kits during the first outbreak of the pandemic

30:58 that reached the price of Php8,150 per test kit.

31:04 We have the most expensive testing which is Php8,150 per test compared to Php2,000 in neighboring countries.

31:12 It was really difficult. Everybody was scrambling for supplies.

31:18 The whole world suffered from the global supply chain shortage.

31:25 This affected the formulation of testing fees.

31:32 You would see the downward trajectory of the testing cost.

31:37 As soon as supplies became more available, prices began to stabilize.

31:46 The Duterte Administration also went out to collect the funds that were borrowed six times during the pandemic

31:52 for the COVID response that reached Php129 billion.

31:56 But DOH said that they have been repaid.

31:59 The DOH officials now ordered to list the funds that were borrowed.

32:04 We are still trying to get the funds of the former President through the former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

32:10 The DOH officials also listed the excess or unused funds of Php89.9 billion from 2021 to 2023

32:20 that they borrowed but could have been used by the members.

32:24 Under the law, there are two courses of action of the DOH, right?

32:29 Yes.

32:30 The first is you can expand the benefits, right?

32:34 Yes.

32:35 The second is you can reduce the amount of money that you collect from them.

32:39 We are aggressively enhancing our benefit packages.

32:42 For GMA Integrated News, Jonathan Andal, Nakatutok, 24 Hours.

32:47 Kapuso, we have breaking news.

32:50 The volcano Calnaon is currently erupting in Negros Island.

32:55 According to Phevox, the plume of smoke reached 5,000 meters.

33:01 The volcanic activity is still continuing and is being monitored.

33:05 It is currently remaining on alert level 1.

33:09 And now for the news this Monday, I'm Mel Tianco.

33:13 I'm Vicky Morales for a bigger mission.

33:16 For a wider service to the country, I'm Emil Sumangyong.

33:20 From GMA Integrated News, the news authority of the Philippines, Nakatutok, 24 Hours.

33:27 [Music]

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