News Roundup 03 July 2020
Jul 03, 2020 • 3 min Read
BREAKING: Duterte signs anti-terror bill into law | INQUIRER.NET – Despite massive opposition, President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the controversial anti-terror bill into law. The anti-terror bill seeks to strengthen the Human Security Act of 2007 and criminalizes incitement of terrorism “by means of speeches, proclamations, writings, emblems, banners or other representations.” It also allows the detention of suspects for up to 24 days without charge and empowers an anti-terrorism council to designate suspects or groups as suspected terrorists who could be subjected to arrests and surveillance.
Senators slam Jolo ‘rubout,’ express readiness to tackle issue in legislative probe | PHILSTAR.COM – Senators on Friday slammed the “rubout” in Jolo, Sulu that led to the death of four soldiers as they expressed readiness to tackle the issue in a legislative hearing. Police and the military agreed to let the NBI conduct an independent probe into the incident where Jolo cops shot four intelligence personnel of the Army. This was after two vastly different accounts were given by the two parties. The police initially labelled it as a “misencounter,” which the military rejected with Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay, Army commanding general, slamming the PNP’s account as “fabricated, full of inconsistencies and misleading.” The police later on clarified that the slain soldiers did not fire their guns. On Thursday, Sen. Risa Hontiveros filed a resolution calling on her colleagues to launch a legislative probe into the incident and “institutionalize measures against the excessive use of force and violence within the police force.” “The incident in Jolo further feeds the public’s distrust toward the [national police]. Especially since this is not the first time this has happened…our police cannot be trigger-happy,” Hontiveros said in a mix of English and Filipino.
COVID-19 cases in Philippines exceed 40,000 with 1,531 new infections | PHILSTAR.COM – The Philippines logged 1,531 more cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19)—the highest single-day increase so far—Friday, bringing the national caseload to 40,336. The number of people who have recovered from the disease also increased to 11,073 with the addition of 400 COVID-19 survivors. But the death toll climbed to 1,280 with the addition of six fatalities.
IATF allows religious gatherings; travel agencies, pro sports practice to resume under GCQ | Manila Bulletin – Religious gatherings of up to 10 percent of the venue’s capacity and administration works of travel agencies will soon be allowed under the general community quarantine (GCQ), Malacañang announced on Friday. These include religious gatherings but only up to 10 percent of the seating capacity, or up to 10 persons, whichever is higher, after July 10. The different religious organizations should likewise strictly observe their submitted protocols and minimum public health standards, particularly distancing measures, wearing of face masks, and availability of hand hygiene necessities in the premises. The IATF also approved the recommendation of the departments of Tourism (DOT) and Trade and Industry (DTI) to allow travel agencies to resume operations in areas under GCQ. However, their operations shall be limited at skeleton workforce and primarily to do administrative works such as processing of refunds and payment to suppliers. The IATF has approved the joint administrative order of the Philippine Sports Commission, Games and Amusements Board, and Department of Health that provides guidelines on the conduct of “health-enhancing physical activities and sports” during the pandemic.
2 Chinese arrested for illegal detention in Makati | The Manila Bulletin – Police arrested two Chinese in Makati City for alleged illegal detention of a fellow Chinese on Thursday, authorities said. A report from the Southern Police District (SPD) late Thursday identified the suspects as Hong Yang, 38, and Shuangling Hu, 33, both employed as Mandarin customer service representatives. The victim was Tang Fei, 27, female. Based on the report, the two were collared in a condominium at Barrio Visaya St., Barangay Guadalupe Nuevo around noon on Thursday.
