News Briefs: Aug. 21, 2019

Duque: Collect trash to prevent leptospirosis

MANILA, Philippines — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III called on local governments on Tuesday to ensure the proper collection of garbage in their areas to help prevent incidents of leptospirosis.

Duque noted that leptospirosis usually spreads because uncollected garbage attracts stray animals and rats, whose waste and urine may contain the leptospira bacteria.

A person gets infected if he has open wounds or skin lesions and wades in contaminated floodwaters.

As of July 27, the Department of Health has recorded 916 leptospirosis cases nationwide, with 106 deaths. —Jovic Yee

Palace: Duterte healthy, rode a motorbike Friday

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte is healthy enough to ride a motorcycle during his absence from the public eye, presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said, quoting the 74-year-old chief executive.

The President claimed that some people even took photos of him riding his motorcycle, that Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go said took place on Friday.

“It only shows that … he is in good health. That’s all it means,” Panelo said. —Julie M. Aurelio

Prove President got P193-M cash gifts, Vera Files told

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has dared independent media organization Vera Files to prove its allegations that President Duterte received birthday cash gifts amounting to P193 million in 2014.

“So many have alleged that he has hundreds of millions of pesos, but it’s not true,” said presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo.

Vera Files reported that seven deposits totaling P193,705,615.88 were made to the joint account of the President, then Davao City mayor, and his daughter Sara Duterte at the Bank of Philippine Islands branch in Julia Vargas. —Julie M. Aurelio