News Briefs: Sept. 7, 2018

Senate’s P1.16-B funding meant for all dengue patients

The P1.16-billion supplemental budget that the Senate approved on third reading will be used to provide medical assistance to all dengue patients, not just those who had been inoculated with the vaccine Dengvaxia. Minority Leader Franklin Drilon introduced the amendment that replaced the reference to “Dengvaxia vaccinees” with dengue patients. The bill was first introduced as a measure to help vaccinees of Dengvaxia, which created a furor last year after findings showed that it could cause more severe dengue symptoms in those who had not been exposed to the mosquito-borne disease. At the hearing on Wednesday, Drilon said he hoped that the Senate version would be the one adopted and not that of the House of Representatives, which provided the funding for medical assistance to Dengvaxia recipients. “It is critical that we be able to provide enough funds for patients who are from the poorer sectors of society,” he said. —LEILA B. SALAVERRIA

6 Filipinos buried in Mecca after dying during Hajj journey

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—Six Filipinos—five men and a woman—on traditional Hajj to Mecca died on their journey and were accorded burial rites in the pilgrimage site, said Dr. Jun Alonto Datu Ramos, director of the Bureau of External Relations of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos. The dead, who all had medical conditions, were part of about 6,000 pilgrims who left the country for the 2018 Hajj. “Any death that transpired during Hajj is welcomed by the pilgrims because they have this belief that when they die during Hajj, they go straight to heaven,” Datu Ramos said. The dead were identified as Casana B. Dirimbangun, 64, from Ramain, Lanao del Sur; Acmad B. Macacona, 59, from Lanao del Sur; Malik Maliga Daraba, 47, from Buldon, Maguindanao; Faisal Dabpil Balatucal, 73, from Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur; Akbar T. Kamid, 70,from General Santos City; and Haron Abilusa, 78, from Maguindanao. —JULIE ALIPALA

Slap on wrist for judge who squandered court funds

The Sandiganbayan has meted a P6,000 fine on a Koronadal City judge who was found guilty of malversing about P582,000 in court bail bonds over a period spanning eight years. In its Sept. 4 decision, the antigraft court’s seventh division found former Municipal Trial Court Judge Agustin Sardido guilty of the charge, “failure of accountable officer to render accounts,” a lesser offense from the original charge of malversation lodged against him and his clerk of court, Normandie Ines. Associate Justice Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Estoesta, the presiding justice, said Sardido pleaded guilty to the charges. The Sandiganbayan also pardoned Sardido’s civil liability, as he had repaid P582,500 to the office of the Court Administrator of the Supreme Court. —MELVIN GASCON

Marawi excluded from special listing for BARMM plebiscite

Marawi City will not be included in the special registration of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for next year’s plebiscite for the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). “Marawi is not included in the special satellite registration on Sept. 11 to 13 because their focus now is the conduct of the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on Sept. 22,” said Director Teopisto Elnas of the Comelec’s Election and Barangay Affairs Department. He said there would be a separate listing for Marawi after their polls. —TINA G. SANTOS