News Roundup 26 July 2020
Jul 26, 2020 • 4 min Read
Coronavirus cases breach 80,000 with 2,110 new patients | PHILSTAR.COM – It has been 131 days since enhanced community quarantine was first implemented in March, and though the Philippines is under the world’s longest quarantine, thousands of coronavirus cases are still being recorded each day, with health authorities logging 2,110 more on Sunday, bringing the national caseload to 80,448. Along with the new cases were 382 recoveries and 39 deaths, which bring their totals to 26,110 and 1,932 respectively. Accounting for those who recuperated from the new pathogen and those who succumbed to it, the number of active cases in the country stands at 52,406 as of this publishing.
CHR: Freedom Parks protected from ‘no permit, no rally’ policy | PHILSTAR.COM – The Commission on Human Rights expressed concern Sunday over conflicting statements from the national police and the interior department after the latter issued a memorandum prohibiting mass gatherings despite the former saying it would not use the coronavirus pandemic to crack down on protesters. In a statement issued Sunday, the commission reiterated that the Liwasang Diokno in the Commission on Human Rights grounds, which is also part of the University of the Philippines campus, is a Freedom Park protected by Batas Pambansa Bilang 880 that does not need a permit for protests and programs. The commission also disclosed that it would be deploying monitoring teams in view of ensuring balance between exercising rights and the corresponding obligation of everyone to protect other people’s rights as well by not causing the spread of virus among others. “The change in messaging is stark: from PNP’s willingness to remind and assist protesters observe minimum health standards to express their opinion to a complete ban on mass gatherings,” the commission’s statement read. “Such decision from the Philippine government comes at a time when studies from countries such as the United States and Australia show that protests have not caused a spike in virus infections for as long as protesters equally mitigate the risks by wearing face masks; practicing physical distancing; ensuring one’s hands are clean; staying home if they are sick; and other health safety protocols similarly reminded by the World Health Organization for those attending rallies,” it also said.
Robredo to attend SONA virtually; expects Duterte to tackle virus recovery plan | INQUIRER.NET – Vice President Leni Robredo will be attending this year’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) through videoconferencing, saying she was not invited to physically attend the annual event at the House of Representatives. During her weekly radio program, Robredo said that she had cleared her schedule for President Rodrigo Duterte’s penultimate SONA and will be attending virtually. “Hindi ako imbitado sa House of Representatives… Iyong na-receive namin na invitation ay Zoom, so iyon iyong pupuntahan ko,” Robredo said in her weekly radio program. (I was not invited at the House of Representatives… The invitation we received is for the Zoom videoconference, so that’s how I will attend.) “Ako naman, lahat na invitation, basta obligasyon pinupuntahan natin, except lang kung may conflict. Ito namang SONA, talagang kinlear natin iyong schedule para dito, so dahil hindi naman ako imbitado physically na pumunta doon, sa Zoom mag-aattend ako kasi obligasyon natin ito,” she added. (For me, we cater to all invitations especially when they are our obligation and there is no conflict. For SONA, we cleared our schedule for this, so since I was not invited to physically go to the House, I will attend through Zoom.) Robredo said she is expecting Duterte to lay out the government’s recovery plan for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic that the country continues to struggle with. Aside from this, Robredo said she is also expecting the President to report on what has happened over the last year.
Solons eager to know Duterte’s economic revival plan | Manila Bulletin – House members can’t wait to hear the national government’s economic revival plan straight from President Duterte himself when he delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday. Deputy Majority Leader and Bagong Henerasyon Party-List Rep. Bernadette Herrera said she expects the Chief Executive to lay down concrete plans to address COVID-19 and revive the pandemic-ravaged economy. “I can safely say that Congress is one with President Duterte in pushing for measures that would protect the public from COVID-19 and resuscitate our ailing economy at the same time,” Herrera said.
