Regular individuals may begin rolling up their sleeves for COVID-19 vaccine shots as early as May with the expected arrival of doses from the COVAX facility and initial deliveries from certain vaccine makers this second quarter, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. says.

President Rodrigo Duterte has dismissed the country's former ambassador to Brazil who was accused of maltreating one of her household helpers.

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Babe Romualdez confirms the note verbale was filed last week asking the US State Department to take action on the rising crimes against Asian-Americans.