FROM 24,299 dengue patients who were admitted to different sentinel hospitals during the first seven months of last year, the Department of Health (DOH) reported that dengue cases decreased by 4.7 percent, or a total of 23,150, during the same period this year.

                Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said this only means that the people are becoming more aware of the epidemic.

                He, however, said: “The decrease is still low. I am expecting a drastic decrease next year.”

                The department’s disease surveillance report shows that the top five regions with the most cases of dengue were Metro Manila, with 32-percent dengue cases, or a total of 7,408; Central Luzon, with 11.5 percent, or 2,662 cases; Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon), 9.7 percent, or 2,245 cases; Central Visayas, 9.6 percent, or 2,222 cases; and Southern Mindanao, 7.1 percent, or 1,644 cases.

                Most of the dengue cases in Metro Manila were in Manila, Caloocan, Malabon, Makati, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Navotas, Pasig, Quezon City, Taguig and Valenzuela.

                In Central Luzon the places where most of the dengue cases were reported were Marilao and Norzaragay in Bulacan.

                Taytay, Rizal, and San Pedro, Laguna, have the most number of cases in Calabarzon; while in Central Visayas, the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Talisay, Toledo, San Fernando and Sibonga have the most cases.

                Davao City had the most number of dengue cases in Southern Mindanao.

                The ages of those stricken range from less than one month to 92. About 53 percent of the victims were male.

                A total of 236 of those stricken died.

                “I hope that there will be a greater decrease [next year]. We could do that if we are going to follow the ‘4-S campaign’ against dengue—Search and destroy; Seek consultation when signs come up; Self-protection; and Say no to indiscriminate fogging,” he said. --S. Fabunan

‘Bravo has no more place to hide’

ZAMBOANGA CITY—A ranking military official here said rogue Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commander Abdulrahman Macapaar, alias Commander Bravo, and his men have no more place to hide.

GSIS hit for ‘secretive’ foreign investments

THE Trade Union Congress of the Philippines on Sunday slammed the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) for its alleged “absolute lack of transparency with respect to its investments overseas.”

Dengue cases down by 4.7%

FROM 24,299 dengue patients who were admitted to different sentinel hospitals during the first seven months of last year, the Department of Health (DOH) reported that dengue cases decreased by 4.7 percent, or a total of 23,150, during the same period this year.

Marines rescue 2 children, arrest 2 kidnappers

THE military rescued early Sunday morning the two children who were kidnapped on September 16 by a neophyte kidnap-for-ransom group believed to have links with the Abu Sayyaf Group in Patikul, Sulu.

OSG presses dismissal of cases vs Limkaichong

THE Office of Solicitor General (OSG) has reiterated the position that the petitions seeking to nullify the proclamation of Lakas Rep. Jocelyn Limkaichong of Negros Oriental on the ground that she is not a natural-born Filipino citizen should be dismissed.

Piracy charges prepared vs architecture, design firms

NATIONAL Bureau of Investigation (NBI) agents simultaneously raided the offices of two architecture and design companies and found allegedly pirated computer software in the companies’ computers, it was learned on Sunday.