News Roundup 05 January 2021
Jan 05, 2021 • 5 min Read
COVID-19 cases in Philippines climb past 479,000 with 937 new infections | PHILSTRA.COM – The Department of Health reported that 937 more people got infected with COVID-19, pushing the country’s caseload to 479,693 Tuesday. The latest figures showed that of the total cases, 21,997 or 4.6% are active. The DOH again attributed the relatively low number of additional cases to the decrease in the number of people who sought COVID-19 testing over the holidays. At least 448,375 individuals have recovered from COVID-19 in the Philippines after the DOH recorded 114 more recoveries. COVID-19 survivors accounted for 93.5% of the nation’s confirmed cases. Meanwhile, the death toll hit 9,321 with 58 more patients succumbing to the respiratory illness Tuesday’s tally did not include data from nine testing laboratories that failed to submit on time. The Department of Health said it can only be determined whether there was a surge in COVID-19 cases by mid-January as more testing laboratories resume their operations after the holiday break.
Following Duterte’s order, senators stress hearing into use of unauthorized vaccine must continue | PHILSTAR.COM – Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Tuesday asserted that Congress must continue to conduct a legislative probe into the use of unauthorized vaccines in the country, even with the Presidential Security Group ordered to keep mum on the matter. Drilon said that the Congress should proceed with its hearing following reports that 100,000 workers of Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) were inoculated with smuggled vaccines. This comes after President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday warned the Congress of a “little crisis” should the PSG made to explain their action to lawmakers. He said: “I will not elaborate on it but do not force my hand to meddle into this affair because maybe I will not, I am not so keen about allowing [PSG chief Brigadier General Jesus] Durante and the rest of the PSG to testify.” Drilon said that Duterte had invoked executive privilege, which is a recognized power of the president and is a valid exercise of power under Executive Order 464. “But to investigate in aid of legislation is also a valid exercise of legislative power. There is no preventing Congress from eliciting information in aid of legislation from other resource persons. Congress can exact information on matters that can help it craft better legislation,” the senator asserted. Sen. Risa Hontiveros also said that while she respects the decision of Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III the Senate will not summon the PSG, she stressed that the government has the duty to crack down on the COVID-19 vaccine black market. “Whether it’s the PSG, the POGO workers or any member of the public, the use of unregulated vaccine is unlawful. Illegal and dangerous. We can’t allow EO 464 to be used too broadly at the expense of public health,” she added in a mix of English and Filipino. Sen. Francis Pangilinan for his part said the Senate hearing will help the public as it will shed light on whether vaccines to be inoculated are safe and effective. He added that the hearing can give the public on the government’s roadmap to obtaining vaccines and its rollout.
Pangilinan on vaccine controversy: Don’t be afraid to speak if you’ve nothing to hide | INQUIRER.NET – It would now be up to the Senate whether or not to focus on the controversial vaccination of Presidential Security Guard (PSG) members but the focus should be on the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan stressed on Tuesday. It was Pangilinan who initiated a Senate inquiry into the government’s plan to stop the spread of COVID-19. The probe is set on January 11. “Makakatulong ang Senate hearing sa taumbayan para malinaw rin na ligtas at mabisa nga ba talaga ang bakunang tinurok sa kanila. At kung walang tinatago, ‘wag matakot magsalita,” Pangilinan said in a statement. (The Senate hearing will help the public and at the same time shed light on the safety and efficacy of the vaccine. And if they are not hiding anything, then they should not be afraid to speak.) “Yung sa usapin ng PSG, nasa mga senador na ito kung tututukan ito o hindi. Kung indikasyon ito ng magulo at kanya-kanyang kilos sa vaccine rollout, ligal man o hindi, ang mahalaga sa akin ay ano ang ibig sabihin nito sa usapin ng kung paano matitiyak na magiging maayos, patas, ligtas at epektibo ang vaccine rollout ng bansa at malaman kung handa ba talaga o hindi ang gobyerno dito,” Pangilinan said. (The PSG issue is now up to senators whether they would focus on it or not. If this an indication of how the vaccine rollout would be, whether it’s legal or not, what’s important to me is to ensure that the vaccine rollout should be orderly, fair, safe and effective and find out if the government is indeed prepared for it.)
Grieving Dacera family questions release of slay suspect | Manila Bulletin – The family of flight attendant Christine Angelica “Aica” Dacera is asking the Makati Police to explain why they allowed one of the men already in their custody to leave, family spokesman lawyer Roger Reyes said on Tuesday (January 5). Colonel Harold Depositar, newly installed Makati Police chief, and investigator Corporal Louie Barlam-Lopez are being asked to explain for letting go one of the men. “We have a problem with the Makati Police Department because one of the persons that should have been detained and investigated was allowed to be released,” he said during a press conference “Doctora Ramos (family friend of the Daceras) was trying to prevent this. We are fortunate to have retained the other two, but one was released by the Makati City Police Department,” he continued.
