News Roundup 06 July 2020
Jul 06, 2020 • 3 min Read
2,099 new COVID-19 cases push Philippines’ total to 46,333 | PHILSTAR.COM – The Philippines clocked 2,099 new cases across the archipelago Monday, taking the country’s tally to 46,333, the Department of Health said. This was the second consecutive day that the number of additional cases breached the 2,000-level. The agency also reported 243 recoveries, pushing the total number of patients who have survived the disease to 12,185. But six more people died from the severe respiratory disease, raising the country’s virus death toll to 1,303. Five of these deaths occurred in June.
Amid spikes in COVID-19 cases, Palace says no choice but to reopen economy | PHILSTAR.COM – Malacañang on Monday said it was “saddened” by the sharp rise in novel coronavirus cases in the country but maintained that it sees reopening the country’s economy as the only option for now. “We really have no alternative because our economy has been pushed to the edge. All of us need to start working,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in Filipino. However, he maintained that reverting to a stricter community quarantine is still a possibility if Metro Manila fails to meet the minimum seven-day doubling rate criteria and finds its critical care capacity overwhelmed.
21 stranded persons survive bus crash in Samar town | INQUIRER.NET – At least 21 stranded individuals returning to their home provinces in Mindanao survived a bus crash unscathed in the town of Sta. Rita, Samar province on Monday (July 6). The bus carrying the stranded persons ran into a deep portion of the road in the town. Maj. Dexter Astacaan, Sta. Rita police chief, said the bus driver was unfamiliar with the road and did not notice the sharp curve in the dark. All 21 passengers and the bus’ drivers were safe, said Astacaan.
SC receives 3 more petitions vs. Anti-Terror Act | Manila Bulletin – Three more petitions were filed with the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday challenging the constitutionality of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 that was signed into law by President Duterte last July 3 as Republic Act No. 11479. All the petitions sought the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) to stop the government from implementing the law starting July 19. The three new petitions were those filed by Law Dean Mel Sta. Maria and several professors of the Far Eastern University (FEU), Rep. Edcel C. Lagman, and the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives led by Bayan Muna Party-List Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate. The first petition was filed electronically last July 4 by a group led by lawyer Howard Calleja and former education secretary Armin Luistro. Hard copies of their petition were filed with the SC on Monday, July 6. While the three petitions pleaded to declare unconstitutional several provisions in RA 11479, the case filed by the group of Zarate sought the declaration of the law in its entirety as violative of the Constitution. It was not known immediately if the four petitions will be taken up in the High Court’s regular full court session on Tuesday, July 7.
Oil firms to lower gasoline, kerosene prices | The Manila Times – Oil companies will reduce the pump prices of gasoline and kerosene by 65 centavos per liter and 40 centavos per liter, respectively, but will leave the cost of diesel unchanged. Cleanfuel, Flying V, Petro Gazz, Pilipinas Shell, and Seaoil will adjust their prices on Tuesday. Last week, the cost of gasoline increased by 70 centavos per liter, diesel by 30 centavos per liter, and kerosene by 40 centavos per liter.
