There was a death within Malacañang compound. Not much is known about it, at least so far.
But we do know the fatality's name: Mario Castro. Castro was an administrative aide assigned at the Information Communications Technology Office under the Deputy Executive Secretary for Finance and Accounting--one of the many offices in Malacañang.
Reports said that he died after falling from the fourth floor of Mabini Hall.
The police, along with the Presidential Security Group (PSG), are now looking into the circumstances surrounding Castro's death. His wife is helping authorities in their investigation, Press Secretary Trixie Angeles-Cruz bared.
There were less grim news to come from the Palace. In fact, this is a welcome development: Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire has been named officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Department of Health (DOH).
Vergeire isn't expected to encounter any difficulties being the face of health department, even if it's just temporary. To many Filipinos, she already was the face and voice of the agency as she was shoved into the spotlight at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in her capacity as DOH spokesperson.
Under the Memorandum Circular No. 1, the OIC shall remain to perform the duties and responsibility of the office until July 31, 2022, or until a replacement is appointed.
Angeles said Vergeire's tenure as OIC could get extended if President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. is unable to pick a DOH secretary by that date.
These are among the top stories this early Friday morning, July 15, 2022.
1) Living with Covid-19
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/as-full-in-person-classes-set-to-resume-duterte-asks-public-to-get-covid-19-jabs/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/dilg-chief-to-endorse-to-marcos-experts-pandemic-exit-strategy/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/metro-manilas-covid-19-positivity-rate-climbs-to-11-5-says-octa/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/garin-says-ph-could-adopt-optional-mask-policy-if-booster-rate-hits-70/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/govt-needs-to-prep-budget-for-2nd-gen-covid-19-vaccines-says-garin/
2) Vergeire, acting DOH chief
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/senators-vouch-vergeire-a-good-candidate-to-consider-for-doh-secretary/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/she-rose-from-the-ranks-garin-proud-of-new-doh-oic-vergeire/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/marcos-taps-vergeire-as-doh-officer-in-charge-selection-process-continues/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/palace-names-vergeire-as-doh-officer-in-charge/
3) Dengue watch
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/expert-urges-public-to-be-open-minded-in-addressing-rising-dengue-cases/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/ph-red-cross-boosts-blood-donation-campaign-as-dengue-cases-increase/
4) From the OVP
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/why-duterte-sought-nbis-help-on-phsa-abuse-allegations-%ef%bf%bc/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/govt-rightsizing-good-direction-for-marcos-admin-duterte/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/vp-sara-stops-convoy-meets-with-old-friends-from-san-beda/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/what-went-down-during-dutertes-meeting-with-australian-envoy/
5) School daze
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/teachers-want-adjustments-in-depeds-sy-2022-2023-school-calendar/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/group-calls-depeds-guidelines-on-face-to-face-classes-a-recipe-for-disaster/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/deped-chief-vp-duterte-stands-firm-on-aug-22-class-opening/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/as-full-in-person-classes-set-to-resume-duterte-asks-public-to-get-covid-19-jabs/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/approved-by-pbbm-duterte-says-aug-22-school-opening-to-push-through/
6) Religious Corner
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/feast-of-saint-camillus-de-lellis-on-july-14/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/pope-appoints-advincula-as-member-of-dicastery-for-bishops/
7) Congress Corner
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/heres-the-best-advice-these-veteran-solons-can-give-to-house-rookies-in-19th-congress/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/legarda-renews-call-to-combat-plastic-use/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/villar-hopes-circular-explorer-will-help-save-ph-environment-from-further-degradation/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/bong-go-govt-workers-to-be-affected-by-rightsizing-plans-should-be-compensated/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/hontiveros-calls-for-urgent-signing-into-law-of-anti-online-sexual-abuse-of-child-bill/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/solon-on-single-parents-who-refuse-child-support-out-of-pride-mali-yun/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/rep-duterte-echoes-pbbms-call-to-speed-up-release-of-national-id-cards/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/lapid-refiles-measure-on-anti-hospital-bill-shock/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/nancy-binay-senate-committee-of-the-whole-should-tackle-covid-19-concerns-anew/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/mark-villar-files-bill-institutionalizing-the-build-build-build-program/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/sotto-duterte-admin-was-not-interested-in-rightsizing-govt-operations/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/salceda-comes-full-circle-rejoins-lakas-cmd-after-12-years/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/gatchalian-files-cyberlibel-case-vs-ex-doe-chief-cusi/
8) Judiciary Corner
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/no-legal-impediment-to-appointment-of-lotilla-as-doe-head-doj/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/sc-extends-to-dec-31-2022-lawyers-notarial-commissions/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/ex-surigao-del-sur-mayor-3-others-guilty-on-ghost-purchase-of-communication-gadgets/
9) Mango mania
10) What happened?
11) SONA Update
12) The #MarcosCabinet series
13) West Philippine Sea issue
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/outsiders-sowing-discord-between-ph-china-chinese-envoy/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/china-rejects-south-china-sea-arbitral-ruling-says-it-violates-international-law/
14) Weather Update
15) World Roundup
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/sri-lanka-protesters-to-end-occupation-of-official-buildings/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/vulnerable-pacific-islands-call-for-urgent-immediate-action-on-climate/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/race-to-find-brazil-amazon-species-before-they-disappear/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/6-candidates-left-in-uk-leadership-race-after-first-ballot/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/netherlands-latest-country-to-detect-covid-ba-2-75-subvariant/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/novavax-covid-19-vaccine-authorized-for-use-in-us/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/rape-of-10-year-old-jolts-us-abortion-debate/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/russia-and-ukraine-near-grain-deal-in-first-talks-since-march/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/remains-of-8000-nazi-war-victims-found-in-poland/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/melilla-migrants-likely-died-of-suffocation-moroccan-probe/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/us-judge-rejects-amber-heards-demand-for-new-depp-trial/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/western-europe-wilts-under-heatwave/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/ukraine-severs-ties-with-nkorea-after-pro-russia-separatists-recognition/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/cia-coder-convicted-of-massive-leak-of-us-hacking-tools/
16) Metro Roundup
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/rizal-police-seizes-2-6-m-worth-of-shabu-arrests-suspected-drug-pusher-in-binangonan-rizal/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/fitness-instructor-held-for-stealing-credit-cards-in-qc-gym/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/caloocan-city-launches-livelihood-programs-for-solo-parents-senior-citizens/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/drug-peddler-killed-3-cohorts-arrested-in-bulacan-buy-bust/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/aguilar-elected-secretary-general-of-vice-mayors-league-of-the-philippines-for-ncr/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/muntinlupa-city-council-to-hold-hearing-on-cctv-installation-in-business-establishments/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/las-pinas-operation-tuli-benefits-250-boys/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/las-pinas-mayor-aguilar-delivers-state-of-the-city-address/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/pateros-with-lowest-dengue-cases-but-records-4th-highest-attack-rate-in-metro-manila/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/qc-govt-distributes-fuel-subsidy-cards-to-tricycle-drivers/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/drug-den-raid-nets-7-high-value-targets-in-pasay-city/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/7-suspects-with-drugs-firearms-arrested-in-pasay-city/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/mayor-biazon-visits-reopened-sm-muntinlupa-vaccination-site/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/da-cites-bulacan-provinces-high-value-crop-program/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/no-water-for-18-to-36-hours-in-parts-of-metro-manila-due-to-damaged-maynilad-pipeline/
17) Business Corner
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/dito-hauling-in-12-m-subs/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/bsp-considers-pesonet-instapay-important-payment-schemes/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/interest-rates-could-reach-4-by-end-2022/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/map-urges-substantial-deregulation-of-msmes/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/pse-flat-after-bsps-surprise-rate-hike/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/ppa-gm-post-still-in-limbo/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/ph-faring-well-despite-higher-debt-diokno/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/rightsizing-does-not-mean-job-cuts-dbm/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/erc-sets-hearings-on-meralcos-capex-linked-to-dotr-projects/
18) Provincial Roundup
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/man-threatening-to-expose-victims-nude-photos-arrested-in-entrapment-operation-in-tarlac/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/pnp-extends-help-to-banaue-flash-floods-victims/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/son-kills-parents-injures-sister-in-knife-attack-in-nueva-vizcaya/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/nine-npa-members-operating-in-quezon-province-surrender-to-military/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/four-wanted-for-statutory-rape-arrested-in-cordillera/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/deped-bicol-eyes-1-8-million-enrollees-in-school-year-2022-2023/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/governor-bans-ducks-spent-hens-to-shield-pangasinan-from-bird-flu/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/4-former-communist-rebels-get-p30000-livelihood-assistance-each-from-dole/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/drug-pusher-in-baguio-sentenced-to-life-fined-p800000/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/23-families-affected-in-la-union-fire/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/181-new-army-troops-to-hunt-npa-in-negros-panay/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/nbi-nabs-woman-for-selling-fake-tin-cards-in-cebu-city/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/ex-arb-leader-in-negros-nabbed-for-drugs-and-guns-in-2021-shot-dead/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/operator-no-tour-packages-for-cclex-photo-ops-approved/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/one-year-old-baby-6-other-kids-rescued-from-cebu-cybersex-den/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/magnitude-3-2-quake-rattles-bacolod-rouses-people-from-sleep/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/almost-13000-families-in-western-visayas-graduate-from-dswd-4ps/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/boy-6-stray-dog-step-on-live-wire-electrocuted-in-catbalogan-worksite/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/alabel-local-govt-employee-faces-ax-for-drug-use/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/registrations-for-new-business-still-high-in-northern-mindanao-despite-pandemic/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/davao-city-logs-5-6-covid-positivity-rate/
https://mb.com.ph/2022/07/14/asf-kills-1500-hogs-in-zamboanga-city/