News Roundup 02 February 2022
Feb 02, 2022 • 4 min Read
DOH logs 7,661 new COVID-19 infections; active cases at 160,297 | PHILSTAR.COM – The Department of Health on Wednesday reported 7,661 additional COVID-19 infections, pushing the country’s caseload to 3,577,298. Wednesday’s tally brought the number of active cases to 160,297, of which 93% had mild illness. According to DOH, 76% of the newly-reported cases occurred from January 20 to February 2. The regions with the highest number of additional infections during that period were Western Visayas (896), Metro Manila (873), and Calabarzon (694). The country’s death toll rose by 43 to 54,097, while recoveries increased by 23,392 to 3,362,904. The DOH said that 24.8% of 40,453 samples on January 31 tested positive for COVID-19, way above the threshold set by the World Health Organization. Two testing laboratories did not submit data to the agency.
If elected, Robredo to focus on ‘cleaning’ gov’t, health in her first 100 days | INQUIRER.NET – Should Vice President Leni Robredo win the 2022 presidential race, she would concentrate on health and “cleaning the government” through choosing worthy Cabinet members in her first 100 days. Robredo on Wednesday said that selecting worthy candidates would show the public that she is serious in leading the country. “Ako, paglinis ng gobyerno. Pinakauna sigurong gagawin natin ‘yung choice natin ng mga i-a-appoint natin na mga officials kasi ‘yun ‘yung pinaka-symbol na seryoso tayo sa ating commitment na lilinisin natin ‘yung pamahalaan,” she said on DZRH News’ Bakit Ikaw? (For me, cleansing the government. Our first action would be choosing our appointed officials because that is a symbol that we are serious in our commitment to cleanse the government.) “So, sa ‘kin, ‘yung most important first step sino ‘yung mga i-a-appoint natin sa pamahalaan kasi ipapakita natin sa tao, ‘uy seryoso pala ‘to, hindi pala lip service lang,’” she added. (So, that is the most important first step for me, the officials that we will appoint because it will show the people, how serious we are, it is not just lip service.) Furthermore, on her first 100 days, Robredo said that she will also concentrate on addressing health concerns of the country.
Senate panel finds Duterte accountable for ‘complicity’ in ‘plunder’ | INQUIRER.NET – The Senate blue ribbon committee on Tuesday accused President Rodrigo Duterte of complicity in “one of the biggest plunders of the Philippines’ coffers in recent history” that involved his friends and appointees in the government’s multibillion-peso pandemic supply deals with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp. in 2020 and 2021. The panel chaired by Sen. Richard Gordon said Duterte “must be held accountable” for betrayal of public trust, a ground for impeachment that was not specifically recommended in his committee’s report. Gordon’s committee released its partial report recommending criminal charges, such as graft and plunder, against several people, including Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, the president’s close Chinese friend and former Presidential Economic Adviser Michael Yang, former Budget Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao, and several Pharmally executives. “The nation has been betrayed. While millions are unemployed, have become poorer and hungrier, are desperate even for just a glimmer of hope, what this administration has done is to exacerbate the already execrable and hopeless state the people are all in. None can be more unforgivable,” the report said. The Senate panel has been investigating allegations of corruption in the P11.5 billion worth of contracts for pandemic supplies won by Pharmally, most of which was coursed through the Procurement Service of the Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) then headed by Lao.
Senate adopts reso recommending raps vs Cusi, other DOE execs in Malampaya deal | Manila Bulletin – The Senate on Wednesday adopted a resolution that recommends the filing of charges against Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi and other officials of the department who are involved in the approval of the sale of the participating shares of Chevron in the Malampaya gas field. The Senate adopted a resolution “expressing the sense of the Senate to file the appropriate criminal and administrative charges before the Office of the Ombudsman and administrative charges against Cusi and other DOE officials for approving and recommending approval of the Chevron Philippines-UC Malampaya transaction contrary to law and regulation.” It was Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate energy panel, who proposed the creation of the resolution after having led hearings into the Malampaya controversy. According to Gatchalian, the filing of charges would provide the personalities involved a venue to properly defend themselves.
