A good friend of mine, an Atenean,  send me an email, actually a forwarded email with a note: e-mail prayer brigade initiated by by Fr. James B. Reuter, S.J. originaly titled, ”Justice at 3 A.M.“ I’ve heared about this case but I’m not really very familliar with the entire story, especially the result of he Philippine Senate investigation. I’ve tried to check some sites and it’s interesting to know that despite the conclusions of the investigation, official record of the case has not been changed and no one has been charged. Here’s some excerpts from the email:

Phillip Andrew A. Pestaño graduated from the Ateneo de Manila High School in 1989, entered the Philippine Military Academy, and became an Ensign in the Philippine Navy in 1993. He was assigned as cargo master, on a Navy ship…

…The scheduled trip was very brief – from Cavite to Roxas Boulevard – it usually took only 45 minutes. But on September 27, 1995 , it took one hour and a half. When the ship arrived at Roxas Boulevard, Ensign Pestaño was dead. The body was in his stateroom, with a pistol, and a letter saying that he was committing suicide. The family realized at once that the letter was forged.. They tried desperately for justice, carrying the case right up to the Senate.

The Senatorial investigation Committee examined all the evidence, carefully. Then they issued an official statement, saying among other things: Ensign Phillip Pestaño did not commit suicide. He was murdered. He was shot through the head, somewhere outside of his stateroom, and the body was carried to his room and placed in the bed.. The crime was committed by more than one person. In spite of these findings, by the Senate, the family could not get justice. The case is still recorded, by the Navy, as suicide. For 12 years they have been knocking at the doors of those in power, to no avail…

email source: Pinoy World. 

A site dedicated to Philip Andrew: http://www.phillippestano.com

Aside from the prevention of H1N1, another problem that Iloilo City is facing today is the problem against the increasing Dengue cases in Iloilo City.

To prevent Dengue outbreak, Mayor Jerry Treñas yesterday asked for the cooperation of different sectors including the Church and schools here. The number of dengue deaths already reached to 13, while West Visayas State University suspended classes starting yesterday following the increase in number of students experiencing symptoms of Dengue fever.

Treñas has called for the participation of the religious sector and schools aside from the Association of Barangay Captains here. He has reiterated his memorandum order to the 180 punong barangays in the city to implement clean-up activities especially in dengue-stricken barangays.

He also stressed the importance of proper information dissemination and clean-up activities in the fight against dengue. He wants a search and destroy scheme to get rid of the mosquito breeding places. Dengue is more dangerous when compared to A(H1N1), Treñas said. “There is no vaccine for dengue unlike with influenza A(H1N1).”

He said the people must do something to eradicate the spread of dengue-carrying mosquitoes. Stagnant water and dark places are the favorable places for the dengue carrying mosquitoes to procreate. Emptying of containers and cleaning of drainage are highly recommended to kill the wrigglers.

Proper information regarding Dengue would help the people initiate preventive measures like the importance of cleaning the surroundings and seeking immediate medical assistance as soon as the person manifest the symptoms of Dengue. Direct communication with the people is seen as effective channel in relaying the information to the people.

Earlier, the City Health Office designed an action plan dubbed “4S” in order to address the increasing number of dengue cases in the city. The 4S refers to: search and destroy breeding places of mosquitoes, self-protection by wearing proper clothing, seek early consultation and say no to indiscriminate fogging.

Fogging is discouraged as it brings risks to individuals suffering from asthma while the CHO recommends the use of larvicidal in large open areas with water to kill the wrigglers of the dengue-carrying mosquitoes. The fogging operations for four consecutive weeks in areas considered as dengue hotspots is only suggested if necessary.

Treñas said he has sent letters to the different parishes here requesting the priests to include in their homilies the information on dengue and its corresponding preventive measures. He expects a positive response from Church since it would be a big help to its parishioners not to catch the virus from Aedes aegypti (Aedes Mosquito).

The mayor also sought the help of the Parents-Teachers Community Association (PTCA) for the campaign against dengue. Clean up activities must be implemented in the different schools. Elementary pupils are mostly the victims of Dengue cases in Iloilo City.

( Source: The News Today )

Four more persons tested positive for Influenza A(H1N1) virus in Western Visayas as of July 3, according to the Department of Health (DoH-6).

This brings the total positive A(H1N1) flu cases in the region to 14.

The DoH-6 said the four new positive cases were in close contact with the high school student of Assumption Iloilo who earlier tested positive for the flu.

Contract tracing performed by DOH 6 personnel confirmed that the two cases originated in Roxas City while the other two were found in the Catholic school in Iloilo City.

Classes were suspended in Assumption school June 23 when the female student, , who hails from Roxas City, tested positive for (A)H1N1 flu.

School officials immediately suspended classes upon suggestion of DoH 6 and the Iloilo City government.

DOH 6 said that all four are now under home quarantine and medication. The patients no longer exhibit flu-like symptoms.

In addition, four new cases under observation (CUOs) were recorded as of Friday. Two came from Bacolod City, one from Iloilo City and another one from Iloilo province.

This brings the total of CUOs in Western Visayas to 91 with 29 negative cases and 28 pending cases.

Meanwhile, classes will reopen in Assumption Iloilo this July 6 after the 10-day suspension.

How do I know if I have influenza A(H1N1)?

( Source: The Daily Guardian )

The use of the prescribed helmet can save your life.

This was the repeat reminder of Land Transportation Office 6 Regional Director Gerard Camiña on motorcycle drivers, who continue to wear plastic helmets or none at all.

This reminder was made during the Forum on Helmets and Visors held at the Grand Hotel last June 29, 2009. It was an activity by the Bureau of Product Standards, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine National Police and the LTO.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has finally come out with the prescribed helmet for the bikers’ use and that dealers can sell. However, there is a danger that bikers will continue to wear plastic helmets because of a five-year moratorium made last year after motorists complained about the use of the prescribed helmet because at that time, the DTI has yet to define what a “prescribed helmet” should be.

To recall, the Land Transportation Office issued Memorandum Order AHS-2008-01 or The Revised Rules and Regulations for the Use and Operations of Motorcycles on Highways which states,”There shall be a five-year moratorium imposed on the mandatory use of prescribed standards helmet effective September 30, 2008 until 2013. Thus, motorcycle drivers and passengers can use any kind of helmet until 2013.

Camiña said that unless there’s a memorandum circular that lifts the moratorium is made, they cannot apprehend drivers who are wearing plastic helmets. Thus, he encouraged the bikers to voluntarily junk their plastic helmets, and enjoy the life-saving benefit provided by wearing the prescribed one.

“These plastic helmets that they insist on wearing will not protect them,” said Camiña, adding that many accidents that were minor, has resulted to fatalities due to the use of the wrong helmet or none at all.

Dominic Abad, regional director of the DTI, said that the prescribed helmet has the PS or ICC marks. Locally-made products should bear the PS or Philippine Standard mark while the imported ones should have the Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) mark. These licenses are issues by the DTI’s Bureau of Product Standards when their product successfully pass the requirements of a Philippine National Standard (PNS). Manufacturers and importers affix the PS and ICC marks on their products to guide consumers.

( Source: The News Today )