News Roundup 22 October 2020
Oct 22, 2020 • 3 min Read
COVID-19 infections in the Philippines breach 363,000, deaths now at 6,783 | PHISTAR.COM – The Department of Health confirmed 1,664 mores cases of novel coronavirus on Thursday, bringing the national caseload to 363,888. Of these cases, 44,772 are active. Recovered patients are at 312,333 after 843 more recoveries were reported by the health department. Meanwhile 38 new deaths were logged by the DOH, bringing the country’s total death toll to 6,783.
Trillanes moves for dismissal of sedition charge over ‘Ang Totoong Narcolist’ videos | PHILSTAR.COM – Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV has moved for the dismissal for the conspiracy to commit inciting to sedition charge he is facing over his supposed involvement in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” anonymous videos. Trillanes was supposed to be arraigned on Tuesday before a Quezon City court, but his lawyer Reynaldo Robles said the arraignment was reset pending the Motion to Quash Information, or a pleading seeking the dismissal of the case, they filed. The former senator has joined the Motion to Quash filed by his co-accused Joselito Saracho, who was accused as the narrator in the anonymous video series accusing the Dutertes of having links to the illegal drug trade. “Accused Trillanes, after reading the subject motion, believes with great faith that the subject motion [Saracho’s] raised valid legal issues which must be first addressed and/or resolved before the arraignment of the Accused,” their motion filed October 19 read. The case stemmed from a complaint filed by the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group that tagged more than 30 known opposition figures, including Vice President Leni Robredo, over the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos.
Solon seeks P13.7-B to help distressed employers with 13th month payment | INQUIRER.NET – A lawmaker is seeking a P13.7 billion subsidy for distressed employers to help them pay the 13th-month pay or Christmas bonus of their workers and employees. Under House Resolution No. 1310, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez noted that employers in the micro, small, and medium-scale (MSME) business sector, in particular, are in need of assistance. Rodriguez said Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III estimates that P5 billion to P13.7 billion would be needed to subsidize distressed MSME employers so they could pay the Christmas bonus of thier workers. The lawmaker said that due to the pandemic, many employers “are suffering losses and do not have the funds to pay the mandatory 13th-month pay even if they are willing to do so.”
Cops launch project to empower women in Iloilo | Manila Bulletin – The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) launched a project to empower women who have been victims of abuse or exploitation. “A woman is unstoppable when she realizes that she deserves better,” said IPPO Director Col. Gilbert Gorero during the launch of the project called “Babaye Bangon.” The IPPO partnered with the local government unit (LGU) of Bingawan town led by Mayor Mark Palabrica and Bingawan police led by Lt. Rene Mercado in the project specifically for survivors of violence against women (VAW). The project is meant to bolster the IPPO’s focus on the protection and empowerment of women. Gorero said the project, which will be replicated in other towns of Iloilo province, is an avenue for women to heal and regain their self-worth while making them more productive.
Robredo office launches P17M training program for out-of-school youth | The Manila Times – The Office of Vice President (OVP) Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo launched on Thursday a free training program to help 1,000 out-of-school youth (OSY) gain employment. The program is a partnership of the OVP with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) that all contributed a total of P17.15 million to cover training costs until the end of the year. Dubbed as “TrabaHOPE,” under the OVP’s BayaniHanapbuhay program, the initiative is open to unemployed OSYs aged 18 to 30 to undergo technical-vocational (tech-voc) training under the USAID and PBEd’s workforce development project, YouthWorks PH. The OVP will provide trainees’ daily allowance, welcome kit, hands-on materials, mobile or internet allowance, and pre-employment support.
