News Roundup 13 June 2022
Jun 13, 2022 • 4 min Read
PH posts 1,682 COVID-19 cases from June 6 to 12 — DOH | INQUIRER.NET – The Department of Health (DOH) logged a total of 1,682 infections from June 6 to 12, slightly higher than the total recorded in the previous week. Based on its latest weekly report, the DOH on Monday said the new cases translated to an average of 240 cases per day, 30.4 percent higher than the previous week’s average of 185 cases. Meanwhile, eight or 0.48 percent of these cases were tagged as severe or critical, while five new deaths were added to the country’s COVID-19 death toll. Despite the growing cases and the additional number of severe or critical cases, the number of patients suffering from critical or severe infections of COVID-19 decreased from 599 last week to 498 (11.3 percent of total COVID-19 admissions). ICU-bed utilization rate, however, increased from 14.7 percent the previous week, to 16.6 percent. The same went for the healthcare utilization rate which increased from the previous week’s 18.1 percent to 20.3 percent. In terms of vaccination, fully-vaccinated individuals are now at 69,759,711 (77.51 percent of target population) after 271,191 additional individuals were vaccinated in the past week. Individuals with booster shots, on the other hand, totaled 14,526,648 after 214,142 additional individuals were inoculated in the same period. Based on the DOH’s COVID-19 tracker on its website, the COVID-19 caseload is currently at 3,693,222 as of June 12, with active cases sitting at 2,918, recoveries at 3,629,843, and 60,461 deaths This comes after infections have been noted to have been slightly increasing in the past few weeks, which experts attributed to neglected health standards.
LTO revokes driver’s license of SUV owner in Mandaluyong hit-and-run | INQUIRER.NET – The driver’s license of the owner of the sports utility vehicle (SUV) that figured in the viral hit-and-run incident has been revoked, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) said on Monday. According to a statement from LTO, the owner of the Toyota RAV4 bearing the plate number NCO 3781 — identified as a certain Jose Antonio San Vicente — was found liable by the agency for reckless driving and violation of Section 55 (Duty of driver in case of an accident) of Republic Act No. 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code. San Vicente is perpetually disqualified from getting a driver’s license and driving a motor vehicle, LTO said. “The LTO finds Respondent San Vicente liable for Reckless Driving and for violating Section 55 (Duty of driver in case of an accident) of R.A. 4136 when he abandoned the scene and the victim. Together with his disregard for the authority of the Land Transportation Office, his acts are considered unacceptable behaviors of a driver,” LTO said. “Taken as a whole, his actions are tantamount to the acts of an improper person to operate a motor vehicle pursuant to Section 27 (a) of R.A. 4136 […] The Non-Professional Driver’s License of Mr. San Vicente was ordered REVOKED pursuant to Section 27 of R.A. 4136 and he is PERPETUALLY DISQUALIFIED from securing a driver’s license and driving a motor vehicle,” it added. LTO also confirmed the statements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. earlier, who said that San Vicente already incurred a previous infraction for reckless imprudence. However, LTO said that there were not just one, but three apprehensions for reckless driving in 2010, 2015, and 2016. “Verification through the LTO system disclosed that Respondent San Vicente has a record of three (3) apprehensions for reckless driving (2010, 2015 & 2016), showing a history of his reckless behavior on the road,” the office added.
Immigration implements dismissal order vs ‘pastillas’ staff | PHILSTAR.COM – The Bureau of Immigration has implemented the dismissal order against 45 of its officials and personnel, whom the Office of the Ombudsman held liable over the “pastillas” bribery scheme that let foreign nationals into the country without going through checks. Justice Assistant Secretary Neal Bainto told reporters that the dismissal also carries “perpetual disqualification from holding public office, cancellation of eligibility, [prohibition] from taking civil service examinations, and forfeiture of retirement benefits.” President Rodrigo Duterte announced last July that the immigration personnel had already been fired but Philstar.com found that they were actually back at their posts after serving a preventive suspension. The Office of the Ombudsman in a 143-page decision found that 45 BI officers liable for administrative offenses of grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service over their involvement with the “pastillas scheme.” The DOJ also conducted its own investigation, which stemmed from the Fact-Finding Investigation Committee of BI, to look into the case. Last week, the department recommended the dismissal of 18 personnel after they were also found administratively liable.
