News Roundup 19 March 2021
Mar 19, 2021 • 4 min Read
Philippines reports 7,103 COVID-19 cases; highest daily increase ever | PHILSTAR.COM – The Philippines recorded Friday the highest daily COVID-19 count the country has seen since the start of the pandemic with 7,103 infections, bringing the total caseload to 648,066.
– Active cases: 73,264 or 11.3% of the total
– Recoveries: 390, pushing total to 561,902
– Deaths: 13, bringing total to 12,900
FDA clarifies: No official EUA application from Sinopharm yet, documents still incomplete | PHILSTAR.COM – The country’s Food and Drug Administration on Friday said Chinese state-owned Sinopharm has not yet “officially” submitted an application for its coronavirus vaccine, amending a statement made by Malacañang earlier this month. Two local distributors for Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine have contacted the FDA, director general Eric Domingo told reporters during a briefing, but neither of them have sent the documents needed for the application to proceed. “There are now two emails sent to the FDA. We have replied to both and given them the list of requirements and the process for EUA application but the two have yet to respond,” Domingo said partially in Filipino. “As of now, no application has been officially filed with documents and requirements.” Interim analysis of Phase 3 clinical trials showed that Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine was 79.3% effective in preventing the disease. However, this data has not been peer-reviewed. As of this writing, only vaccines from Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Pfizer and the Gamaleya Research Institute have been approved for emergency use by local regulators.
Group calls for united 2022 slate | INQUIRER.NET – A broad coalition consisting of former government officials and members of civil society organizations announced on Thursday that it would put up a “single, united democratic slate” for the 2022 elections and rally Filipinos to block the continuation of a dictatorial and authoritarian administration. In his keynote address launching 1Sambayan, former Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, the group’s lead convener, said the coalition will lead a movement “to bring good governance to the Filipino people” against impunity, unabated corruption and failed pandemic response. “It is good governance, that will lift the Filipino people from poverty. It is good governance, that will bring economic development to the country, and prosperity to the Filipino people,” he said in an online video message. The former magistrate said Filipinos should not endure another six years under an administration of President Duterte’s anointed successor. “The Filipino people should reject all those identified with dictatorship and authoritarianism … all those responsible for, or who abet extrajudicial killings, and whose mantra is, kill, kill, kill … all those who violate human rights … all those who plundered the government,” Carpio said. “The Filipino people should reject all those who refuse to defend and protect our national territory and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea for these are the people who have held back the progress and development of the country,” he said.
Pangilinan on SWS survey: ‘Culture of impunity’ planted fear on Filipinos | Manila Bulletin – Senator Francis Pangilinan said on Friday he is not surprised with the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey finding that more adult Filipinos agree that “it is dangerous to print or broadcast anything critical of the administration, even if it is the truth.” “Well, hindi surprising ‘yon dahil sa araw-araw na patayan na nangyayari at red-tagging, at ‘yong pagto-troll at paninira at pananakot na ginagawa sa social media lalo na. At ‘yong ginagawa rin ng gobyerno na inaaresto kaliwa’t kanan ang mga nagsasabi ng mga saloobin nila (that is not surprising because of the killings that have been happening every day and the red-tagging, and trolling and slandering and threat that is happening especially on social media. And also the arrest being done by the government of those who were vocal in voicing their opinions),” the opposition senator said in an online interview with reporters, March 19. He also mentioned the implementation of the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act, and the spate of killings of government officials, judges, lawyers, and activists. “It’s culture of impunity that’s happening in the country. People are afraid. That’s what happens when you have impunity taking place,” he said. “Can you blame them? Everyday, may balitang may binabaril (there i news that someone is shot dead), everyday may balitang pinapatay (there is news someone is killed)?” In its survey conducted November 21-25, 2020, results of which released only March 19, the SWS said 65 percent of adult Filipinos agree with the statement: “It is dangerous to print or broadcast anything critical of the administration, even if it is the truth.” Only 16 percent disagreed, while 18 percent were undecided.
