News Roundup 09 November 2020
Nov 09, 2020 • 4 min Read
Philippines adds 2,058 new COVID-19 cases; total now at 398,449 | PHILSTAR.COM – The total number of coronavirus infections in the country reached 398,449 Monday after the Department of Health recorded 2,058 new cases. At least 361,784 individuals have recovered from COVID-19 in the Philippines after the DOH logged 182 more recoveries. The day before, the agency confirmed the recovery of 11,430 people as part of its “Oplan Recovery” program. Meanwhile, the death toll hit 7,647 with 108 more succumbing to the respiratory disease.
Like Marcos, Calida pushes for Leonen inhibition in VP poll protest | PHILSTAR. COM – Solicitor General Jose Calida has moved for the inhibition of Associate Justice Marvic Leonen in the vice presidential poll protest in a motion filed separately from a similarly-worded one that former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. filed earlier Monday. In a completely unrelated pleading from Marcos’, Calida asked the Supreme Court, sitting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal, to grant the motion for Leonen to inhibit from proceedings and to immediately re-raffle the poll protest. Calida reportedly filed the motion at noon, hours after Marcos — who said in a press conference that he and the solicitor general have not discussed the protest at all — did the same. Marcos stressed that he has his own lawyers. This is at least the third time that Calida, who styles his office as the People’s Tribune, filed a pleading that leans in favor of Marcos in the vice presidential poll protest. Marcos, in a news briefing early in the morning, was asked whether he will “join forces” with Calida on Leonen’s inhibition. He replied: “Well, you should ask Solgen about what his plans are. If he does in fact move to support our motion, then it means he agrees with our arguments.” Calida, who supported the vice presidential bid of Marcos under the Alyansang Duterte-Bongbong (AlDuB) group in the 2016 national elections, previously asked the SC copies of Leonen’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth for a quo warranto petition.
Duterte appoints Sinas as new PNP chief | INQUIRER.NET – President Rodrigo Duterte has designated National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Police Major Gen. Debold Sinas as the new chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), Malacañang said Monday. “Tinalaga po ni President Rodrigo Duterte si Debold Sinas bilang bagong Philippine National Police chief effective po bukas, November 10,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announced in an online briefing. (President Rodrigo Duterte designated Debold Sinas as the new Philippine National Police chief, effective tomorrow, November 10.) Sinas made headlines in May this this year after photos of his birthday gathering showed a number of police officers defying health protocols amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Senate approves bill declaring child marriage a crime | Manila Bulletin – The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading the bill prohibiting and declaring child marriage as illegal. Senate Bill No. 1373 gained 21 affirmative votes, no negative vote and no abstention. Senator Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality thanked her colleagues for helping pass the “Girls not Brides” bill. “Today, we give our girls a chance to dream, a chance to define their future according to their own terms. We defend their right to declare when they are ready to begin their families,” Hontiveros manifested during the Senate’s session. “We tell them their health matters to us, their education matters to us. We give them a fighting shot,” she stressed. The senator said the bill primarily considers the act of child marriage a public crime, and penalizes any person who facilitates and solemnizes a union between a minor and an adult.
Robredo backs PUV driver’s appeal for phaseout deferment | Malaya Business Insight – Vice President Leni Robredo has lent her support to several public transport organizations calling for more protection of their livelihood against the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the push to phaseout traditional public vehicles. Leaders of organizations of jeepney drivers and operators together with UV Express groups in Central Luzon met with the Vice President during her regular Sunday radio program over RMN-DZXL to air their concerns about the potential loss of their livelihood. Dan Yumul, president of the Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Tutol Sa Phase Out (Stop) and the Confederation of Passenger Transport of Central Luzon, said less than 40 percent of over 200,000 jeepney drivers nationwide have been allowed to resume their livelihood. Yumul clarified that drivers support the modernization of the country’s transport system but the realities on the ground require a reevaluation of the timetable to allow jeepney drivers and their families to adjust. He likewise lamented the policy of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) that placed the traditional Pinoy jeepney at the end of the list of public transports that were permitted to resume operations.
