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The Philippines and France set to hold talks on their own Visiting Forces Agreement.

He's in order in the Philippines, improving under the Marcos administration.

That's according to the Interior Department.

A rollback in local oil prices expected next week.

And the Senate set to look into allegations of collusion between doctors and pharmaceutical companies

to force patients to buy certain medicine brands.

We'll get the reaction of the President of the Philippine Medical Association, Dr. Minerva Kalimak.

Hi, I'm Karina Constantino.

Dateline Philippines begins right now.

Thanks for joining us.

For those of you watching us on YouTube and on Facebook,

glad you could join us today.

Our top story at this hour, the Philippines and France planning to deepen their defense cooperation.

The two countries set to begin talks for a Visiting Forces Agreement next month.

Back in December, top defense officials of the Philippines and France

signed a letter of intent to boost security cooperation,

including a commitment to start negotiations for a VFA.

Such a deal would allow French forces to train with their Filipino counterparts.

We will have an opportunity in May to maybe start officially the negotiations

or at least discuss the modalities.

The next meeting is May 20, May 21.

So that's the perfect occasion to officially discuss the ways to negotiate the VFA.

The French ambassador also highlighting the role of the Philippines in maintaining regional peace.

And the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

It's a region of critical importance.

So it's also against this background that it was important for me to come to the Philippines.

The Philippines is a key partner for France

in the framework of our relationship with the Philippines.

We have a very strong convergence in our assessment about the dynamic within the Indo-Pacific.

You also, through the Indo-Pacific strategy,

provide options to meet the challenges posed by the growing assertiveness of China.

The Philippines has visiting forces agreements with the U.S. and Australia,

but it has been expanding defense ties with other allies as maritime tensions with China escalate.

It recently signed separate defense cooperation deals with Canada and the U.K.

It is also negotiating.

A military access pact with Japan.

Meanwhile, France officially joins the Philippines and the U.S.

in this year's Balikatan exercises.

And as Bianca Dava tells us,

Washington and Manila are also considering holding joint security operations in the West Philippine Sea.

The Philippines and the United States are considering joint maritime law enforcement operations

within Manila's waters to promote a law-based order in the South China Sea.

Top government officials from the two countries met for the 11th Bilateral Strategic Dialogue in Washington, D.C.

and reiterated the need to maintain peace and security in the critical waterway.

Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualde said this would be a first,

but once it proceeds, the country hopes to encourage other allies such as Australia and Japan to join the initiative.

Manila and Washington also agreed to strengthen engagement against false foreign interests,

a narrative encompassing all kinds of disinformation.

Obviously, the false narratives, every time something happens in the West Philippine Sea,

China always says it's us who are putting up the aggressive behavior.

On Thursday, the naval vessels of the Philippines, the U.S. and France

set sail marking the start of the multilateral maritime exercise for this year's Balikatan.

Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command Spokesperson Captain Ariel Coloma said,

the Philippine Navy's BRP Davao del Sur and BRP Ramon Alcaraz,

the French Navy's FS Vandemir and the U.S. Navy's USS Harper's Ferry

left Puerto Princesa City in Palawan Thursday morning.

For the first time, the navies of the three countries will venture outside the 12-nautical-mile territorial waters of the Philippines,

but still within its 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone.

The drills include division tactics, officer-of-the-watch maneuvers,

heavy exercise and photo exercise.

They have lined up training activities, sir.

In fact, upon reaching the eastern coast of Palawan,

they will start their division tactics.

They will be sailing together on the east coast,

then going up north up to Mindoro Strait,

and then...

The MME will run until April 29,

after which participating ships will proceed to the respective maritime commitments.

U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant General Michael Cederholm believes,

the Balikatan exercise is the perfect training ground for the Philippines' new defense concept.

The official said,

the largest annual bilateral exercise between the two countries

will significantly contribute to the comprehensive archipelagic,

defense concept earlier announced by the Department of National Defense.

This, amid rising tensions between Manila and Beijing in the West Philippine Sea.

As we've undergone force design to operate as a naval expeditionary force in the littorals,

we're bringing that capabilities over here.

We have the Marine Littoral Regiment that's working here.

That is a logical plug-in point for coastal defense.

Cederholm noted that the Balikatan decision,

this year, will focus on integrated air missile defense,

cyber defense,

and other drills that will serve as a deterrent against external threats.

As we improve our interoperability,

as both the U.S. services and the AFP go through modernization efforts,

it's important for us to be able to gather our forces together,

figure out and constantly figure out how we integrate new capabilities,

how we make our readiness better,

how we communicate about those.

The Philippines,

The Philippine Navy on Tuesday reported the surge of Chinese vessels in the West Philippine Sea

as the Philippines and the U.S. formally opened exercise Balikatan.

But Balikatan exercise director Major General Marvin Licudini said,

China's presence during the drills will not be a problem

as long as the country adheres to international law.

We considered the presence of the Chinese maritime militia in these areas,

particularly in the EEZ part of the...

of our waters.

And I believe at the operational level and tactical level,

the commanders have already taken into consideration

within their planning how to address the problems on the militia.

Aside from France,

the Philippines and the U.S. will also conduct drills with Australia

in this year's Balikatan.

Bianca Dava, ABS-CBN News.

China's activities in the West Philippine Sea

among the key security issues discussed during a joint National Peace and Order Council meeting in Malacanang,

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. presided over that meeting

which tackled issues like maritime tensions, communist insurgency,

cyber security and the drug problem.

In a statement, Malacanang said China's activities in Manila's waters

jeopardized the security of the Philippines

through the obstruction of the country's naval operations

and harassment of Filipino fisher folk.

Officials also flagged what they called the use of engagements

as warfare tactics to influence Filipinos.

During the same meeting,

the Interior and Local Government Department reported

the peace and order situation in the country has improved

under the Marcos administration.

It says from July 2022 to April 2024,

the Philippine National Police recorded 71,544 crimes.

That's significantly lower.

From the more than 196,000 crimes recorded

from the pre-pandemic years of 2016 to 2018.

The agency points to sustained crime prevention programs

and better coordination between the DILG and the police

as reasons for the improving peace and order situation in the country.

Philippine law enforcement agencies investigate a deepfake audio

which mimics the voice of President Marcos.

The government's IT department believes more of these deepfakes

may spread during the election season.

Lady Vicentio reports.

The Presidential Communications Office is coordinating with authorities

for the investigation of a deepfake audio of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The manipulated audio makes it sound like Marcos is authorizing the military

to use force against China amid escalating tension in the West Philippine Sea.

The Information and Communications Technology Department said

this isn't the first time a deepfake audio is being used against the President.

This isn't the first time a deepfake audio is being used against the President.

This isn't the first time a deepfake audio is being used against the President.

This isn't the first time a deepfake was used featuring a head of state.

DICT has since reached out to video sharing website, YouTube,

where the deepfake audio was uploaded.

Even Putin, even Biden, even Trump, they do the same thing.

They're the ones who choose these stupid cyber criminals.

So we really need to be very, very careful.

And when that happens, we immediately...

communicate kung anong platform ang ginamit

and inform those platforms that inaabuso ang kanilang platform

sa ganitong pamamaraan to misinform the public and to deceive the public.

Nakikipag-ungnayan na ang PCO sa DICT at saka sa NSC,

sa National Security Council, para doon sa investigasyon.

At nag-coordinate na rin sa Facebook, sa Google,

sa lahat ng mga social media platforms na para matukoy,

kung sino ba ang gumawa nito.

Kasi baka hindi lang dito sa Pilipinas, baka may foreign intruders na gumawa nito.

May hackers na garing pa sa ibang bansa.

So iniimbestigahan po yan ang ating pamahalan.

We warned more bad actors may resort to using deepfake

with emergence of artificial intelligence.

The ICT chief also advised the public to be vigilant and critical of what they see online.

They call it a super election year because there are about 80 countries

around the world that is conducting elections.

One side will produce some deepfake to misinform the others

para masway yung public opinion.

The PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group is also investigating the source of the deepfake audio

involving President Marcos.

According to the PNP ACG, the YouTube account that uploaded the video

has been deactivated, but another account with the same name reposted the video.

A Facebook page bearing the same name, the same name of the video,

was also discovered, with the primary country of its page managers

set to Philippines and Pakistan.

It was also found that the said page was posting fake articles.

The PNP ACG warns bad actors creating deepfake videos

could face illegal charges and imprisonment.

The International Telecommunication Union, a specialized agency of the United Nations,

emphasized the need to address the spread of deepfakes and other cybercrimes,

not only to protect world leaders,

but also for all members of the society.

Deepfakes, misinformation, etc.

So that is of concern to us.

We have to keep society safe.

And whether prominent or not prominent persons,

they have to be protected online.

Meanwhile, the DICT hopes for increased budgetary support

to enhance its capacity in fighting cybercrime.

Lady Vicentio, ABS-CBN News.

Philippine Senator Sherwin Gatchalian seeking a probe

into the reported payment by foreign students in Cagayan for degrees.

That's after security analyst Chester Cabalza claimed foreign students

in the province are paying up to 2 million pesos for the recognition.

Some of them, Cabalza said, never even bothered to attend class.

The allegation was made amid a surge in Chinese students in Cagayan,

which hosts joint military facilities of Washington and Manila.

This has raised concerns about potential Chinese

espionage amid the maritime tensions between Manila and Beijing.

Hans-Leo Kakdak officially takes over the helm

of the Philippine Migrant Workers Department.

Kakdak has been serving as the officer in charge of the agency

after Secretary Susan Toots-Ople passed away in August last year.

Prior to his appointment as DMW Secretary,

Kakdak also served as head of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration

and undersecretary of the Labor Department.

OFW Partylist Representative Marisa Magsino welcomes the appointment of Kakdak,

calling him a veteran in public service.

The Migrant Workers Department ramping up efforts to combat illegal recruitment activities

in the country are very own Jackie Pascual reports.

An immigration consultancy firm was closed down by the Department of Migrant Workers

for alleged illegal recruitment.

The firm's four branches located in Mandaluyong, Kabanatuan in Nueva Ecija,

Lipa in Batangas,

and Apalit in Pampanga were plastered with closure orders.

The DMW says they sent an applicant to check

if the agency is recruiting workers without a permit.

Ang depensa nila, permanent residency track sila.

Hindi OFW ang mga kliyente nila.

Pero that's beside the point kasi kung permanent resident,

edi dapat ang trabaho nila ay visa consultancy lang.

Ibang kusapin yung aalukin mo ng trabaho, na hindi naman permanent resident ang status.

Aside from having no permit, the agency allegedly also seeks a fee,

which is illegal, especially for those heading to work in Canada.

Paiba yung positions, caregiving, truck drivers, nurse aide, HR manager, factory worker,

humihingi ng 110,000 professional fee.

Pagka-interview, may may bayad na kaagad yan na 41,000.

Yun, kapag halimbawa na kausap na daw ng employer, another 41,000.

Kapag na-issuehan ng visa, another 41,000, or ng permit pala.

And then, pagpaalis na, another 40,000.

DMW now urges the public to always check if the recruitment agencies are legitimate

because overseas Filipino workers will be given more protection

if they undergo the legal process to work abroad.

The department also warns the public to scrutinize and verify social media posts

offering visas.

or recruitment services.

For this year alone, meron na tayong OIC na napasara, na patik down through coordination with Facebook

na 10,108 na illegal recruitment posts.

Ganon din po sa TikTok, meron na rin tayong 4,863 posts from TikTok na pinapatik down natin

because of these illegal recruitment activities.

Number one badge of illegal recruitment, yung hindi mo nakikita yung nagre-recruit sa'yo.

And number two, close second, naniningil ng pera.

The case of the shot.

The shuttered agency will be brought to the Justice Department for prosecution.

The DMW also vows to monitor social media posts from questionable recruiters.

Jackie Pascual, ABS-CBN News.

Senator J.V. Ejercito has filed a resolution seeking to probe what he calls a pyramiding scheme

between doctors and pharmaceutical firms.

Ejercito said he has spoken to whistleblowers who claim firms are recruiting doctors

to prescribe their products.

In exchange for luxurious rewards.

The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines, or PHAP, sent us this statement.

The group reiterated its firm commitment to ethical and professional conduct in all of its interactions.

PHAP says it is appalled by reports some of those in the pharmaceutical industry are not abiding

by laws and regulations governing their business practices.

The group adds such reports must be thoroughly investigated.

Joining us now to give their reaction to this controversy, Dr. Minerva Kalimag.

She is the president of the Philippine Medical Association.

Dr. Kalimag, thank you for joining us today and welcome to the program.

I appreciate you coming to our show today.

Thank you, Ben, for the opportunity to talk about it.

Okay, let's talk about it.

Indeed, Dr. Kalimag.

You know, big pharmaceutical companies using doctors to further their interests.

This is nothing new.

We've heard this.

This happened in the past.

But this alleged pyramiding scheme involving doctors and this pharmaceutical firm,

what do you make of it, Dr. Kalimag?

Actually, bumulaga ito sa atin.

Bigla na lang because of the whistleblower.

So, ang importante kasi sa ating lahat.

We should be very vigilant as physicians.

I think kailangan natin.

Kung baga, i-critically look at yung mga ganong alok.

Kasi once inaluka ng ganyan,

nagkakaroon tayo ng tinatawag natin na conflict of interest.

And pagka ganun ang nangyari,

importante na alam natin kung kailan natin ipiprescribe ang mga gamot.

So, dahil may bested ka dun sa...

sa kumpanya, you might be required to actually prescribe the medication.

Ang mga drug companies kasi, meron silang nilalagdaan na Mexico City Principal.

At yung mga device companies, yung Kuala Lumpur Principal.

Kailangan dun na magkaroon tayo ng transparency in all our transactions

among physicians, sa mga hospitals.

So, yun.

Ang ating kailangang pangalagaan.

Kasi, ang pagdodoktor kasi ay isang bokasyon na bigay buhay at hindi hanap buhay.

Kung baga na, tayo ay tinatrust.

Trust is the bedrock.

And integrity ang ating puhunan para ang ating mga pasyente ay gumaling

at magtiwala sila sa atin.

So, yun ang take ng Philippine Medical Association dyan.

Meron tayo rin...

Sorry to cut you there, Dr. Kalimagno.

Pero sa lahat po nang sinabi ninyo, bakit sa tingin ninyo ay meron pa rin mga ganitong kaganapan?

And how will the Philippine Medical Association deal with this?

Kasi, alam nyo, pag ang tao nakita nila na vulnerable,

alam nila na pwedeng maloko pa ito.

Kasi,

mga ganyan, no?

O kaya, yung talagang nag-iisip tayo na gusto natin kumita kaagad, no?

Nadidetect yan ng mga oportunista.

So, tayo, pwede tayong lapitan, no?

Tapos, maano na tayo?

Masasama na tayo sa kanilang maling gawain, no?

Pero kung...

Siguro dapat tayo, no?

Mga doktor, no?

Lakasan natin ang ating mga loob, no?

Para nang sa ganun, sabihan natin sila na mali rin yung ginagawa nila, diba?

So, yun.

Magkakaroon, syempre, tayo ng investigation dahil meron tayong Commission on Ethics sa PMA.

Lahat kasi ng doktor, whether PMA or hindi PMA members, are under the Code of Ethics.

Ito po ay code na hindi lamang para sa mga PMA members,

dahil ito po ay nasanib ang Professional Regulation Commission na naglagdaan itong Code of Ethics na ito.

So, ano rin yan?

Pati ang PRC, no?

Mag-iimbestiga din dyan.

Pag sinabi niyo pong mag-iimbestiga, kailan niyo ito sisimulan?

At meron na ho ba kayong shortlist ng iimbestigahan niyo po?

Ang kailangan kasi, may mag-file din, no?

Ng...

Kung...

Ang complaint sa Philippine Medical Association.

Hindi po tayo kasi pwedeng mag-point ng fingers, kasi hindi naman natin alam kung sino-sino sila.

So, kailangan na malaman natin, no?

Sa ngayon, kasi naghahanap pa tayo ng kung sino na matatanong natin, no?

Malalaman natin, kasi biglang ang bumulaga sa atin ito.

Pero tingin niyo ba, Dr. Kalimang, tingin niyo ba ay merong mga doktor,

mga ngahas, no?

Nabanggain ang kapwa nila ng mga doktor?

Ang importante kasi, ano eh, have we crossed the line, di ba?

Para saan pa ang code of ethics, di ba?

Kung hindi naman pala siya susundin, di ba?

So, regardless kung ang PMA ang gagawa niyan o ang Professional Regulation Commission,

magtutulungan po tayo, no?

Kasi yung mga ganyan na usapin, talagang kasama natin ang PMA at PRC pagdating sa gawain ng mga doktor.

Ang kumpanya kasi, kung nagkocross sila dun sa Department of Health, di ba?

So, the FDA naman ang nagbibigay sa kanila ng lisensya.

Para mag-push ng mga gamot, di ba?

So, through the FDA, the DOH can also do that.

So, marami lang talagang misguided.

Dr. Kalimang, pwede ho bang gawin?

Because we're trying to see here what's in the power of the PMA to investigate your own, di ba?

Ang sabi niyo po kanina, kailangan merong mag-file ng complaint.

So, motopropyo.

So, wala po kayong magagawa.

Kailangan may nakalagay dun na pangalan, ganun ho ba, doctor's names, bago ho kayo mag-imbestiga at bago kayo magtanong?

Kasi pwede kaming maka, may motopropyo din, ano?

Subalit, kailangan natin malaman kung ano yung extent ng kanilang involvement.

Kasi hindi naman lahat ng yan ay, kumbaga, ang nagsimula, no?

Kasi kailangan malaman din natin.

Kung saan ang simula, yung kagawian na yan o yung practice na ganyan, ano?

Kasi hindi naman namin tinuturo yan sa medisina, no?

Na mag-pyramiding tayo.

Alam naman natin, yung pyramiding, kahit hindi gamot ang gamitin mo, it is not good, di ba?

Ang dami na, na Ponzi scheme, na ganyan.

So, ang importante, malaman natin.

Kung saan talaga yan nagsimula, no?

Meron ho bang pumipigil sa PMA na halimbawa ay dumiretsyo na doon sa pharmaceutical company na tinutuko, yung Belkens,

para tanungin sa kanila, sino ang mga doktor na nabigyan nila through their medical representatives nung kanilang mga produkto?

Pwede ho bang ganun magsimula ang imbestigasyon?

Wala kasing ano tayo eh.

Hold doon sa kumpanya, no?

Kung baga, business ethics nila yun.

Dapat sumusunod din sila sa ethics ng pharmaceutical industry, kagaya nga nung binitawang mga salita ng PHAP, di ba?

So, kung tayo didiretsyo sa kanila, hindi natin sila saklaw, di ba?

Pero, tita, tanungin nyo lang naman yung pangalan ng mga doktor na nabentahan nila.

Meron din kasi tayong data.

Privacy Act, di ba?

Hindi rin natin sila pwedeng basta kasabihin natin na, oh, sino-sino, no?

Sasabihin nila, we are sworn to secrecy based on the Data Privacy Act.

So, paano nyo ho makukuha yung listahan ng mga doktor?

Nandiyan na po si Senator JBR, si Tono.

Abangan natin ang kanyang mga pronouncements.

After the Senate Inquiry.

Kasi, this is above all of us sa tingin natin, no?

And, of course, yun nga, paano natin sisimulan?

Yun ang tanong mo, eh.

Yun talaga ang, ano, di ba?

Parang sa, kaya ako, ang Philippine Medical Association,

naglabas tayo ng isang open letter.

Para nang sa ganun, wala nang iba pang madamay, no?

Kasi nga, importante yung ating tinatawag na integrity, di ba?

Eh, kung magpapaloko nga tayo, sabi nga, magpapabudol tayo, di ba?

Eh, mapapariwara tayo, di ba?

Ano kaya ang nagiging epekto nito po sa inyong asosasyon?

Because on the one hand, right, members or not,

you look after each other din po.

Kasi, di ba, isa po kayong pamilya.

Pero kapag ganitong may nagkamali na miyembro ng pamilya ninyo,

makakaasa ho ba ang publiko na hindi nyo pagtatakpan, ipagtatanggol,

kung mapatunayan nga na itong mga doktor na ito,

in your own words, have crossed the line?

Makakarating po tayo dyan, no?

Ang importante po ay magtutulungan tayo.

Kasi hindi po hindi namin kaya ng kami-kami lang, di ba?

So, ang importante po kasi is meron ding magwi-whistle-blow on the side of the doctors, no?

Sabi mo nga, isang pamilya, sa isang pamilya,

ang nasasaktan dito is actually the whole medical profession, no?

Kaya nga sinasabi natin, huwag din naman nating lalahatin

kasi kapag merong nagkamali,

hindi naman lahat ng buong profesyon ng pagdodoktor eh kasapi na, di ba?

Kaya nga ang pumapinalabas natin na letter ay a call, no?

For all physicians to be strong enough to defend themselves against these unethical practices, no?

So...

Oh, what makes them vulnerable to begin with?

Ah, pwedeng bata pa sila, no?

Although, sasabihin mo, marami din matanda dyan, ano?

Baka matanda nga nag-isip ng style na to eh, no?

So, ah, yung mga kabataan, bagong graduate,

ah, uumpisa pa lang ng practice, no?

So, kung tingin nila we are vulnerable,

sinabi ko rin sa sulat ko yan,

gullible, madali tayong maloko,

or tingin nila, uy, kakagat yan, no?

Kasi, kasi, ah, siguro, ah, very attractive yung ating mga ibibigay sa kanila.

Yun naman eh, human behavior yan eh, di ba?

But it's unacceptable, Dr. Kalima, di ba?

Yes, it's unacceptable.

Even if it's human behavior, go ahead.

Yeah, it's unacceptable and unacceptable naman yung human behavior, di ba?

So, kaya nga sabi natin, kailangan matutunan,

ito tayo na, ah, mag-detect, masama ba ito?

Is there conflict of interest?

Kasi pag nagtanong tayo, masama ba ito? Tama ba ito?

Once you get into the part na nagtatanong ka na sa sarili mo, tama ba ito?

Then there is probably conflict of interest, dahil binabagabag ka ng konsensya mo eh, di ba?

So, yan ang tinuturo naman natin sa, sa medical school, di ba?

Meron tayong ethics sa medical school.

So, ah, kung magpapagala tayo sa kanila, talagang mapapariwara tayo.

On the part of the patients though, ah, Dr. Kalimag, ano ho kaya ang pwedeng sabihin?

Ano naman ang pwedeng gawin ng mga pasyente kung tingin nila ay pinipilit sila na yun lamang ang bilhin ng mga medisina para sa kanilang mga sarili?

So, sa lahat naman ng mga pasyente, kung sa tingin ninyo,

hindi kayo gumagaling doon sa gamot na ibinigay sa inyo, di ba?

Ah, ano din natin yan ah, tanongin natin yung doktor, bakit po ba? Ilang araw na, hindi pa ako gumagaling.

Marami din pong doktor na pwede tayong ibang lapitan, no?

At ah, ah, konsultahin. Kaya nga tayo may tinatawag na second and third opinion, di ba?

Kasi minsan, parang halos binibentahan ka na ng gamot.

Meron din, meron din mga ganyan. So, kailangan talaga ah.

Pero Dr. Kalimag, hindi naman po lahat ng ating mga kababayan ay mayroong resources para pumunta sa iba't ibang doktor para lamang makakuha ng second, third opinion, hindi ba?

So, on the first try, you would hope that the care that is due you should be given right away, hindi po ba?

Tama rin naman, tama din yan, di ba? So, talagang kaya nga ang sabi natin, ah, sama-sama tayo na magtulungan, no?

Dahil kasi ah, hindi rin naman ah, makakausad dyan kung hindi natin sila tatangkilikin, di ba?

So, ah, yun nga ang sinasabi natin, itong ano na to, itong mga pangyayari na to, na i-erode yung trust and confidence ng mga pasyente.

Sa, sa, panggagamot, di ba? Kaya ka pumupunta sa doktor dahil may sakit ka, no?

So, ah, hindi naman po lahat ng doktor ay ganyan, no?

So, ah, go to the doctor, dun sa doktor na sa tingin mo ay maaasahan mo at bibigyan ka ng, ah, ah, tamang gamot at panggagamot.

Hmm.

Finally, ah, Dr. Kalimag, balikan ko lang yung sinabi niyo po kanina na kayo rin po sa PMA ay, ah, ah, maglulunsan po ng investigasyon.

Pero kung wala ngang lalapit, if there's no one who will come forward to name certain doctors, right?

Kung walang whistleblower po sa mismong PMA, paano ho kayo makakapag-imbestigan on your own?

Ang ibig sabihin ba nito ay hindi na kayo makakapag-imbestiga on your own and you'll just rely on the Senate investigation that will be headed by Sen. J.V. Ejercito?

Ah, meron din naman tayong mga resources, no? Para matukoy natin kung sino-sino sila.

And, ah, yun nga, ah, importante kasi na magtulong-tulong tayo kasi hindi naman din kami pwedeng basta lalapitan na ikaw ba'y ganyan, ano?

Kasi, ah, we cannot name names also. Hindi rin kami pwedeng magbigay ng pangalan, di ba? Kasi iba naman ang ikakaso nila sa amin.

So, importante na, ah, magkaintindihan, no, kung ano ba ang, ah, alam nyo, we do not blame people, eh, no?

Ang talagang kinokondem natin dito ay yung practice, no? Kasi, ang importante kasi sa atin sa medisina, eh,

Kasi, ang importante kasi sa atin sa medisina, eh, ang talagang kinokondem natin dito ay yung practice. Kasi, ang importante kasi sa atin sa medisina, eh,

Kaya sa medisina ay yung alam natin ang diagnosis, ano ba ang unang gamot na ating inibigay,

papano ba yan, kaya nga may mga evidence-based clinical practice guidelines pa kami,

pinagtutuunan namin ang pansin yan, tapos hindi lahat ng gamot ay available pati sa mga government hospitals.

So, ginagawa naman natin ang lahat ng ating, may mga ethics sa ano rin tayo.

So, alam nyo, malaking usapin nito eh.

But again, I go back to just what you said just a few seconds ago.

Sabi nyo po, you don't blame people but the practice.

But that practice, Dr. Kalimag, won't be perfected if there aren't any people involved.

How does that make sense?

So, ano, Carmina, pwede tayo mag-usap hanggang bukas.

Kungkul dito, tama yung sinabi mo, ang lahat naman ng gawain ay gawain din ng tao, di ba?

So, sinasabi natin na hindi yan mapaperfect kung wala rin magpapaloko o kung wala rin namang kakampi sa kanila, di ba?

So, yun ang aayos.

Aayosin natin, no?

Kasi, meron lang root cause.

Sa lahat ng bagay, meron tayong tinatawag na root cause.

You can go back to all the statements that I say, paulit-ulit, di ba?

And, ang importante kasi talaga is character ng tao.

Yun ang dapat nating pagtuuna ng pansin.

Kasi nga, kapag ang character natin ay weak, no?

Yun ang sinasabi nating vulnerabilities.

Madali tayong masway.

Yan, dyan tayo magkakaroon ng problema.

Huwag na nating idiin, no?

Siyempre, alam natin, no?

Lahat ng sinabi ko, pwede nating paulit-ulit na sabihin, no?

Importante lang talaga nagsimula ang lahat sa tao.

Sa tao na kailangan.

Sa tao na kailangan ay strong ang kanyang integrity, moral compass, no?

At, dyan naman ang itinuturo nga natin sa lahat ng mga mga gamot na lumalabas sa medical school.

So, panawagan natin doon sa mga drug companies na ganyan ang ugali.

Ayusin din natin ang inyong pamamalakan.

Okay, we're gonna have to leave it at that.

Dr. Minerva Calimero.

Dr. Minerva Calimero, president of the Philippine Medical Association.

Thanks again for joining us this noon.

Appreciate it.

Thanks, Gabina.

Right, from there, we're gonna take a quick break.

Up ahead, the Philippine Energy Department admits the power situation in the country can now be considered a calamity.

The details when we return.

You're watching Dateline Philippines here on AMC.

You're watching Dateline Philippines here on AMC.

Check it out.

Thank you very much.

I appreciate you.

Jerseyizer.

Thank you very much.

Enjoy your place, government years.

Have a good day.

Goodbye.

Good night.

Goodbye.

Good night.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Goodbye.

Back with more news calls for a four-day workweek revived, this time due to the extreme heat.

Victoria Tula tells us more.

Every day, Christine Mateo spends about two hours traveling from Marilao, Bulacan to the travel agency she works for in Quezon City.

This is no easy commute, especially with the extreme heat.

Because of this, Christine supports suggestions of a four-day workweek.

Instead of working eight hours a day, she will be on duty for ten hours a day.

The local government of Bacnotan Town in La Union has already ordered a four-day workweek among its employees since April 15

to protect them and the public amid sweltering temperatures.

According to the Civil Service Commission or CSC,

the four-day workweek is an option available to government employees under the flexible work arrangements.

This can be implemented on days when there is extreme heat

or during times of calamities.

The Civil Service Commission, however, has a strict reminder to government personnel.

The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines does not see any problem

with the four-day workweek among government and private sector.

It emphasizes, though, the need to consider their salaries and health.

According to the Employers' Confederation of the Philippines or ECOP,

the four-day workweek might affect the economy as investors may not look at it favorably.

ECOP says it will be better to allow companies to craft their own policies in beating the heat.

The Department of Labor and Employment is ready to help in making these guidelines.

According to Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma,

the flexible work arrangement helps a person's work-life balance,

but other concerns must also be taken into consideration.

You cannot have one-size-fits-all.

You really need to talk well so that you can avoid misunderstandings and file cases.

Victoria Tulad, ABS-CBN News.

The Energy Department admits the country is already facing a power crisis

with more alerts expected until next month.

Alvin El Chico reports.

As the country sizzles due to the intense heat,

power consumption rose to its highest level this year,

even surpassing the projected peak demand for the summer season.

The Energy Department still sees some yellow and even red alerts

in the power grid until the middle of May.

In the next few weeks until the middle of May,

we are going to have yellow alerts and possibly red alerts in some areas.

If none of our power grid is in the middle of May,

if the plants are going to go offline,

then perhaps it's just yellow alert.

Energy Secretary Rafael Utili admits

the current state of power supply in the country

can be considered a crisis situation,

which he likens to a calamity.

Do you consider our situation to be already in crisis mode?

Or papano ba?

Well, it remains a challenge, right?

It's a calamity and we are responding to it.

The good news is there are a number of new power facilities

that are scheduled to be online running this year,

including coal-fired power and renewable energy plants.

More than 4,000 megawatts will come online this 2024.

Of the expected capacities, 4,030 megawatts are in Luzon,

80.25 megawatts are in Visayas,

and 52.5 megawatts are in Luzon.

That's why Utili is confident

the series of yellow and red alerts

will not be repeated during the hotter months next year.

Then we will have adequate supply for next year.

And next year, it's La Niña that we are facing,

not really El Niño.

And therefore, the derated hydro...

Hydropower plants are likely to be performing optimally.

But for now, Dutiria says,

no one can stop the intense hot weather,

so the appeal is for consumers to remain energy efficient

in order to manage demand

that can prevent power interruptions from happening.

If I had the power to bring on the rains

by doing a rain dance,

I will be the first to do so.

Meanwhile, the Energy Regulatory Commission

has called on operators of six power plants

to provide information related to its probe

on the series of yellow and red alerts

in the Luzon and Visayas grids last week.

The ERC has monitored an almost 50% increase

in electricity prices at the spot market last week

due to the tightness in power supply.

Alvin Olchico, ABS-CBN News.

Over at the upper chamber,

Senator Rafi Tulfo, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Energy,

has filed a resolution seeking a probe

on the power supply woes in the country.

He says proper interventions must be taken

to ensure enough power supply and prevent more outages.

A slight rollback in oil prices expected next week,

the Philippine Energy Department says

kerosene may see the biggest drop

of as much as 90 centavos per liter,

while gasoline and diesel may fall by 40 centavos.

The DOE,

tributes the price adjustments

to what it calls easing geopolitical tensions

after Iran said it has no retaliation plan against Israel.

Women's groups led by the Gabriela Party List

held a forum this morning

on the ongoing Balikatan exercises.

Their very own Vivian Gullia now joins us with details.

Viv, over to you.

What more can you tell us?

Hi, Karina.

Groups advocating for the rights of women

and the LGBTQIA community

expressed this Friday

their opposition to the bill.

Their opposition to the ongoing Balikatan exercises

between the Philippines and the United States

in the West Philippine Sea.

In a forum in Quezon City this morning,

representatives of Gabriela, Lila Pilipina, and Bahaghari

rang bells with pink and violet ribbons

as they chanted no to war.

Gabriela Party List representative Arlene Bross

has said the Balikatan exercises

are fueling tensions in the contested waters.

The group is planning to file a resolution

before the House of Representatives

to conduct an inquiry into the activities

that are part of this year's Balikatan exercises

which they view as a provocation

to military conflict.

Lila Pilipina's Estelita D. Minwal

is worried about a possible repeat

of their experience as comfort women

during the Second World War

should her intention escalate into war.

Gabriela also expressed concern

over the reported disruption

of the livelihood of local farmers

and fisherfolk and community members.

Gabriela Party List representative Arlene Bross

has said the Balikatan exercises

are fueling tensions in the contested waters

and that the exercises are adjusted

depending on current needs.

Camina, back to you.

Thanks a lot, Vivian Guglia there

joining us on the line

and back here in the newsroom

moving now to the latest in sports.

Reigning NBA MVP Joel Embiid

dominates New York Knicks

in Philadelphia's 125-114 win

in the first round playoff series.

The Sixers center dropped 50 points

allowing the Sixers to cut their series deficit

two games to one.

NBA MVP Joel Embiid

is just the third player in NBA history

to score at least 50 points against

the Knicks in the postseason.

Game 4 will be played Sunday

still in Philadelphia.

That'll do it for today. Thanks for joining us.

I'm Carmina Constantino. If you want to visit

this episode, you can

playback this newscast on our YouTube channel

and on AMC 24-7 on Facebook.

Keep well. Keep it here on the news channel.