Latest news with #PDL
GMA Network
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Xyriel Manabat to AZ Martinez: 'Ako lang ki-kiss mo, ha?'
XYZ ship is sailing! Xyriel Manabat and AZ Martinez continue to be the sweetest to each other in the outside world. Last week on TikTok, AZ posted a video of her and Xyriel grooving to "Sa Susunod Na Lang" by PDL, Skusta Klee, and Yuri. To Xyriel's delight, AZ kisses her on the cheek. Netizens teased Xyriel, saying she's replacing fellow "Pinoy Big Brother" housemate Ralph De Leon, and she replied, "Sorry, Tol." Both AZ and Ralph soon posted TikTok videos with each other, the latest of which was the pa-kiss trend set to "G Luv" by 1550 Collective. In their broadcast channel called "Book Club," Xyriel told AZ on Tuesday, "Ako lang kikiss mo ha, hanggang amba lang yung isang kasama mo sa tiktok okay?" The message was in response to AZ's previous message to Xyriel, which read, "Mahal na mahal kita." AZ and Xyriel struck a close friendship on "Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition." Xyriel has openly admired AZ's beauty, and both promised to stay friends once they're out of Bahay ni Kuya. Xyriel and Vince Maristela were evicted the week following Ralph and Charlie Fleming's wildcard re-entry. AZ and her final duo, River Joseph, were named the fourth big placers during the Big Night held on July 5. —JCB, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
2 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Kapatid spox banned from entering CIW due to alleged repeated violations —BuCor
The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) on Monday defended the banning of Fides Lim, the spokesperson of political prisoner group Kapatid, from entering the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW), saying it did so due to repeated violations and unruly behavior. In a letter sent to Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla dated July 12, BuCor Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. said Lim has been banned since April 29 after a thorough investigation. The bureau said it found alleged repeated instances of 'defiance, arrogance, and disruptive conduct towards corrections officers, including high-ranking officials, during visits at the New Bilibid Prison' from February 2024 to October 2024. 'There are procedures to follow when visiting a PDL, and we treat everyone the same. No special treatment; all are equal,' Catapang said in a statement. 'We have to maintain order and adhere to security protocols within the correctional system to ensure a safe environment for both staff and PDLs,' he added. This came after Lim asked the Department of Justice to investigate why she was denied entry while delivering food to a person deprived of liberty (PDL) last week. GMA News Online has asked Lim for comment but has yet to receive a response as of posting time. —KG, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- GMA Network
PDL finishes high school through ALS; ranks second
A 25-year-old man in Misamis Oriental graduated high school under the Alternative Learning System (ALS). He even finished second of his class. But unlike the 91 other graduates, Calvin John Niño Nuez was not free to celebrate however he wanted. He is a person deprived of liberty (PDL) at El Salvador City Jail. He is behind bars for carnapping and illegal possession of firearms charges filed in 2024. 'This is a testament na ang effort sa BJMP na i-develop atong mga PDL is effective dili lang sa educational program sa BJMP,' El Salvador City Jail Warden, Jail Senior Inspector Don Felix Boado, said. In his speech during the graduation, Nuez expressed his gratitude to those who supported him throughout his academic journey. He also encouraged his classmates to continue their studies so they can graduate and find decent jobs. 'Dili gyud ta motuo sa istorya nga taas na ang lubi para mo-eskwela pa ta… dili pa ulahi ang tanan… dapat kung naa ta sa jail, diha ta mokuha og kusog,' Nuez said. The jail management noted significant positive changes in Nuez since his detention. Nuez continues to receive intervention from BJMP to help prepare him for life after release. 'Kung unsa man pwede nila i-avail sa mga early releases like plea bargaining, probation, ginatabangan nato sila para mas mapaaga. Additionally, naa tay good conduct time allowance,' Boado said. Nuez took the opportunity to also ask for forgiveness. 'Mangayo ko og pasaylo ug nakita nako ninyo karon sa TV nga tarong na nagbinuotan na gyud,' Nuez said.
GMA Network
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
PDL artworks up for auction at Leon Gallery
The artworks of persons deprived of liberty (PDL) will be featured at the Leon Gallery in Makati City from July 12 to 18, 2025 in the run-up to a special auction on July 19. (Photo from BAGA FB post) The artworks of persons deprived of liberty (PDL) will be featured at the Leon Gallery in Makati City from July 12 to 18 in the run-up to a special auction on July 19 at 2 p.m. In a statement, the Bagong Buhay Group of Artists (BAGA), a community of former PDLs and individuals from marginalized sections of society united by their transformative journey through art, said the auction will feature the the winners, finalists, and entries from the First National PDL Art Competition, which was held from July to October 2024, as well as artworks by the BAGA. The competition was participated in by more than 180 PDLs from various jails and correctional facilities across the country and spearheaded by the Justice Sector Coordinating Council. The council is composed of the Supreme Court, Department of Justice, and Department of Interior and Local Government. The Bureau of Corrections, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and Sandiganbayan Associate Justice Karl Miranda also took part in the event. 'The competition and the auction aim to highlight the artistic talents of PDLs and provide a unique platform for them to showcase not only the rehabilitative power of art but also their exceptional talent and creativity,' BAGA said in a statement. Miranda said that the Leòn Gallery, through its director Jaime Ponce de Leon, agreed to waive commissions from the auction, which means 100% of the proceeds will go to the PDL artists and their families. "This auction is not only our way of giving back to the community, but our way of celebrating these up-and-coming talents in the hopes of giving them the chance to really flourish and thrive through their creativity,' de Leon said. The panel of judges for the art competition was composed of Salvador Ching of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Jualim Vela of the Department of Humanities of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, and Liping Zheng, an artist and retired senior officer of the Asian Development Bank. "Through this activity, we hope to emphasize that incarceration is not the end-all and be-all of the Philippine justice system, but rather a step toward the rehabilitation and reintegration of PDLs into society," said Joey De Leon, president of BAGA and former PDL. 'Through this special auction facilitated by Leon Gallery, the quality of PDL artworks will be elevated so that people will patronize them not only out of empathy for their plight but also because of their artistic quality,' he added. De Leon founded BAGA in 2021 to assist ex-PDLs in their reintegration into mainstream society.—Llanesca Panti/LDF, GMA Integrated News
Euractiv
5 days ago
- Health
- Euractiv
Bulgarian court ruling widens access to lifesaving drugs
In a significant legal development, Bulgaria's Supreme Administrative Court has overturned a decision by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) regarding a patient with a rare disease's access to medication, opening the door for patients to receive life-saving medications not included in the country's Positive Drug List (PDL). The ruling could have far-reaching implications for people suffering from rare diseases or cancer who are currently excluded from reimbursement due to regulatory loopholes. Dr Antoaneta Toncheva, geneticist and member of the Bridges Community Association, welcomed the news. 'This is the best news I've had in weeks! A small-big step that I hope triggers a landslide of change,' she remarked. Reimbursement obstacles For medicines to be reimbursed, they must be on the so-called 'positive list'. The list determines which medications are fully or partially covered by the state, outlining conditions for prescription, including eligible diagnoses, prescribing specialists, dosages, pricing, and reimbursement levels. Medications not on this list are generally excluded from public funding. However, it is not the only barrier to access. A 2019 ministerial regulation stipulated that only patients under 18 or those who began treatment before reaching adulthood were eligible for reimbursement. Landmark case The court ruling concerns a 21-year-old man diagnosed with a rare genetic disease, Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1). This is a genetically rare condition characterised by the development of multiple tumours. They are not malignant, but they have the potential to become so eventually. The state Health fund had denied funding for his treatment with Koselugo (INN Selumetinib), arguing that under a 2019 ministerial regulation, only patients under 18 or those who began treatment before reaching adulthood were eligible for reimbursement. However, the court found this regulation to be incompatible with Bulgaria's Health Act, which stipulates that treatment outside the scope of mandatory health insurance must be provided under conditions set by the Minister of Health. The judges ruled that the law takes precedence over the ministerial ordinance. Important precedent Expert testimony in the case highlighted that without treatment, the patient risks severe disability. Koselugo blocks specific proteins involved in tumour growth and is expected to reduce the size of plexiform neurofibromas. The court concluded that denying access to the drug based solely on age violated constitutional principles of equality, proportionality, legal certainty, and the protection of legitimate expectations. 'The Constitution obliges the state to protect the health of all citizens without age discrimination,' the ruling states. The judges emphasised that the goal of public health regulations is to ensure quality and accessible healthcare for all. All insured individuals are entitled to free medical assistance, including prescription and access to approved medications, medical devices, and specialised dietary products for home use. Therefore, the NHIF director should have applied the law directly rather than relying on the ministerial ordinance, the court argued. 'The fact that the patient is over 18 does not make him any less in need of state-funded medical care,' the ruling reads. Lawyer Maria Sharkova, who represented the patient, told Euractiv that the ruling sets a precedent for others in similar situations. 'Any patient in need of treatment with a drug outside the list, if it is proven safe and effective, can now rely on this court decision,' she explained. Access improved via courts At the end of 2024, Bulgaria's Commission for Protection against Discrimination concluded that the state systematically discriminates against patients with rare diseases and cancer. The decision followed a year-long campaign by the Bridges Community Association. Although the first court ruling upheld the Commission's findings, the Parliament and the Ministry of Health appealed rather than address the legal shortcomings. The case is now awaiting a final decision from the Supreme Administrative Court. This is not the first time the judiciary has expanded access to healthcare in Bulgaria. In 2024, the Constitutional Court struck down the core financial limits on hospital treatment imposed by the National Health Insurance Fund. As a result, the national healthcare budget increased by 15% within a year, reaching €4.5 billion. Despite this increase, experts warn that the current budget may still fall short of covering the growing healthcare demands triggered by recent legal rulings. [Edited by Vasiliki Angouridi, Brian Maguire]
