News Roundup 11 June 2020
Jun 11, 2020 • 2 min Read
Guevarra says protests banned due to COVID-19 risk; rights lawyers argue otherwise | PHILSTAR.COM – On the eve of a planned protest against the looming passage of the anti-terrorism bill, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra asserted that mass gatherings such as rallies are temporarily banned due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rights lawyers refuted this argument, and said that there is no law prohibiting holding rallies even during a pandemic. Guevarra, in a message to reporters, said: “Solely for public health reasons and nothing else, mass gatherings including protest rallies, are temporarily banned to avoid direct transmission of the COVID-19 virus.” The protest will be held at the University of the Philippines, Diliman campus, where the Soto-Enrile accord is in effect. Under the agreement between the UP and the Department of National Defense, police and military presence in any of the state university’s campuses is prohibited without authorization from and coordination with the UP administration.
PH COVID-19 cases top 24,000 as record high 270 patients recover | INQUIRER.NET – The country’s confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases jumped to 24,175 on Thursday after the Department of Health (DOH) announced 443 new infections. Of the new cases, 253 were “fresh” or those patients whose test results were released within the last three days, while 190 were “late” cases. The DOH also reported nine more people succumbed to the disease, pushing the nationwide death toll to 1,036. Meanwhile, 270 more patients defeated the viral illness. The total recoveries in the Philippines now stand at 5,165. This is the highest single-day increase in recoveries, topping Wednesday’s tally of 159.
UP team sees 40-K COVID-19 cases in PH by end-June | Manila Bulletin – Confirmed cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country could climb to 40,000 by the end of this month, experts from the University of the Philippines said. This projection is based on the “current trends” that they are seeing in the COVID-19 situation in the country, said Professor Guido David of the University of the Philippines’ OCTA Research Team. “For the whole Philippines, 40,000 cases by June 30. Ayun yung projection based on current trends,” said David during a media forum hosted by the Department of Health (DOH).
Signal No. 1 up in Metro, 13 areas as LPA develops into tropical depression ‘Butchoy’ | The Manila Times – A low pressure area (LPA) east of Quezon Province developed into a tropical depression and was named “Butchoy”, the state-weather bureau said on Thursday. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) last spotted tropical depression “Butchoy” 75 kilometers northwest of Daet, Camarines Norte or 95 kms east of Infanta, Quezon at 5 p.m on Thursday. Butchoy was moving west northwest at a speed of 20 kilometers per hour (kph), carrying maximum sustained winds of 45 kph and gustiness of 55 kph.
