Windows26: PCG: China used water cannons that could kill

May 2, 2024

Hi, reader! Today's newsletter covers China's use of deadly water cannons in its recent WPS aggression, Marcos' directive to review minimum wage rates, and a reminder to drug firms on financial ties disclosure.

PCG: China used water cannons that could kill

IT WAS THAT STRONG A railing bent out of shape on the BRP Bagacay of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shows the force of the water cannon blast coming from the China Coast Guard vessel that harassed it on Tuesday. PHOTO COURTESY OF PCG

China Coast Guard (CCG) ships for the first time fired potentially deadly high-pressure water cannons on two government vessels which were sailing to Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal) to deliver aid to Filipino fishermen this week, a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) official said on Wednesday.

Read the full story

China's action's amid 'Balikatan' calls for PH-US rethink – experts

The latest water cannon attacks by China Coast Guard (CCG) ships against Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) while Manila and Washington carried out their large-scale military exercises called "Balikatan" were intended by Beijing to test their alliance, according to maritime security experts.

Read more

Marcos orders wage review, cites 'impact of inflation'

As Filipino workers observed Labor Day, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday ordered a review of minimum wage rates across the country to consider the impact of inflation on goods and services.

Read more

Drug firms reminded to disclose 'financial relationships' with doctors

While investigations are ongoing into a local drug company's alleged prescriptions for incentives marketing scheme for doctors, the Department of Health (DOH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reminded pharmaceutical firms that they are required to regularly disclose their "financial relationships" with hospitals and physicians.

Read more

SC: HIV-positive status not ground for firing

Even if a Filipino is working abroad, simply testing positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cannot be used as the sole basis for termination of employment, the Supreme Court said in a recent landmark decision.

Read more

EDITORIAL: Doctors turned mercenaries

Going after doctors who have tweaked the Hippocratic Code to their advantage is not going to be easy. Unless a patient is brave enough to come out and complain that his or her medical prescription was made based on an "exchange deal" with a pharmaceutical company, that practice will continue.

Read more

Other stories you should read