News Roundup 02 September 2020
Sep 02, 2020 • 3 min Read
Philippines records 2,218 new COVID-19 cases; total now at 226,440 | PHILSTAR.COM – The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the Philippines rose to 226,440 after more than 2,000 additional cases were added to the national tally Wednesday. The Department of Health reported 2,218 new COVID-19 infections. The department added 609 more people to the recovery count, which increased to 158,610. Meanwhile, 27 more people died from the respiratory disease, pushing the death toll to 3,623.
Pangilinan: Public health experience is needed to run PhilHealth | PHILSTAR.COM – Amid the raging pandemic and the alleged corruption plaguing the Phiippine Health Insurance Corp., Sen. Kiko Pangilinan on Tuesday said the state-run insurer needs a leader with public health and financial expertise, not experience in law enforcement. This comes after new PhilHealth president and CEO Dante Gierran, a recent retiree from the National Bureau of Investigation, admitted that he has no prior knowledge or experience when it comes to public health. “I’m very scared. I’m scared because I don’t know the operations of PhilHealth. Unlike NBI, I knew the operations of NBI. But PhilHealth, wala. I do not know about public health,” Gierran told ANC’s “Headstart.” “What I know about is financial management, having been a certified public accountant, and insurance,” he added. “I have serious misgivings about [Gierran’s] appointment given that we clearly need a more holistic rather than a simplistic law enforcement approach to the cancer confronting PhilHealth in particular and the COVID health crisis in general,” Pangilinan said in response.
AFP chief Gapay: Military won’t participate in RevGov calls | INQUIRER.NET – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will not allow its personnel to participate in any movement calling for a revolutionary government, the AFP chief of staff told lawmakers on Wednesday. Facing a panel of the Commission on Appointments (CA) for his nomination to the rank of General, AFP chief of staff Lt. Gen. Gilbert Gapay said that establishing a revolutionary government “will cost more harm than good at this point in time in our country.” “We are entitled individually but as Armed Forces of the Philippines, we will not allow anybody to be part of this movement and to actively participate in the furtherance of the goals and objectives of the group pushing for the establishment of a revolutionary government,” Gapay said. “The [AFP] does not support this movement in calling for a revolutionary government,” he said. “It is unconstitutional and we find it politically-motivated,” he added.
New PNP Chief to evaluate anti-drug war, introduce ‘new phase’ | Manila Bulletin – Incoming Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Police Lt. Gen. Camilo Cascolan said he will evaluate the government’s anti-drug war and come up with a “new phase” for the campaign. “The strategy on the war on drugs was last 2016. It should be evaluated in such a way that there should be a technical working group that will discuss the lapses and everything that has to be done,” Cascolan said in an interview with CNN Philippines on Wednesday. “I wish that I would be able to evaluate it properly, come up with a contingency plan and new phase of the anti-drug war,” he added. In the new phase, Cascolan said the PNP will focus “much more” on high-value individuals.
Filipino singer wins ‘The Voice Kids UK’ | The Manila Times – After entertaining viewers across the United Kingdom with her powerful voice, 13-year-old Filipino singer Justine Afante was crowned winner of “The Voice Kids UK.” Representing the team of singer-songwriter Pixie Lott, Afante sang Beyonce’s hit song “Listen” for her finale performance, besting three other finalists, namely George Elliot, Victoria Alsina and Dara McNicholl. The young star broke down in tears after host Emma Willis called her name at the finals on August 31. Asked if she was okay, Afante told Willis, “No, I can’t breathe.” Afante brought home 30,000 British pounds and an ultimate VIP theme park experience at the Universal Orlando Resort.
