News Roundup 02 June 2020
Jun 02, 2020 • 3 min Read
COVID-19 infections in Philippines approach 19,000 with addition of 359 cases | PHILSTAR.COM – The total number of confirmed coronavirus disease cases in the country approached the 19,000-level Tuesday as the Department of Health announced 359 additional infections. To date, the highly-contagious respiratory illness has infected 18,997 individuals in the Philippines. Of the newly-reported cases, 176 were considered “fresh,” while 183 were “late” cases from the department’s testing backlog. Half of the fresh cases were recorded in Central Visayas, while 18% were from Metro Manila and the remaining 30% were found elsewhere. Under the new reporting system, fresh cases are those whose test results were validated by the DOH in the last three days, while late cases are those whose results were released to patients four days ago or more but were just recently confirmed. The DOH also reported 84 more recoveries, pushing the number of COVID-19 survivors to 4,063. Total recoveries accounted for around 21% of the nation’s confirmed cases.
Binay dares DOTr execs to commute to work during GCQ | INQUIRER.NET – Senator Nancy Binay on Tuesday dared the government transport executives to commute to experience for themselves the guidelines they have enforced under the general community quarantine (GCQ) and to understand the daily struggles of the riding public. Binay posed the challenge to transport officials and policy-makers, saying that Metro Manila’s shift to a less strict GCQ “without a clear plan for the commuting public only added to the chaos, misery and confusion.”
Senators push for collection of P50-B unpaid POGO taxes | Manila Bulletin – Some senators on Tuesday expressed their belief that the P50 billion in unpaid taxes of Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) should be collected and channeled to the government’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon made the call as he inquired about the status of the P50 billion franchise and other taxes that POGOs supposedly owe the government. “That is a source of funding that could help us achieve our interventions (on COVID-19),” Drilon told Senate finance committee chair Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara in the plenary discussion on the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act. The unpaid taxes, Drilon said, can be earmarked for activities and programs to spur economic activity and address the country’s COVID-19 situation. Sen. Joel Villanueva agreed with Drilon’s proposal, and said the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) itself admitted that the amount remains uncollected from the POGO industry. “And we’re only talking about the legal POGOs operating in the country,” Villanueva pointed out. “They (BIR) also admitted they are having a hard time collecting these unpaid taxes.” Villanueva added, “I think it is still a great challenge up to this point in time for the BIR who is also asking the Senate for help, and also Pagcor (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.) is asking us to help them collect these taxes.”
SC orders Palace to explain VFA withdrawal | The Manila Times – The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday ordered Malacanang to explain why it withdrew from the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) without the concurrence of the Senate. Well placed sources of the Manila Times said the high court ruled that the Palace, through Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., should comment on the petition by several senators on whether the Senate’s concurrence is necessary in the abrogation of a treaty. The petition was filed by Senate President Vicente Sotto 3rd, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, as well as Senators Richard Gordon and Panfilo Lacson, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto and Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.
