News Roundup 03 June 2020
Jun 03, 2020 • 3 min Read
Philippines reports 751 new COVID-19 infections, nearly 20,000 in total | PHILSTAR.COM – The Department of Health on Wednesday confirmed 751 new cases of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), raising the country’s infection tally to 19,748 from the 18,997 reported yesterday. Of which, 221 of the cases were classified “fresh” (results returned to patients within three days) while the remaining 530 were positive results returned “late” (results returned beyond four days due to validation backlog). With an average of 631 new cases reported daily since Sunday, the COVID-19 count is expected to breach the 20,000 mark tomorrow, just 252 cases shy after today’s bulletin. The local death toll is now 974 after 8 new mortalities were also reported. Meanwhile, the country’s recovery count stands at 4,153 after the Health department announced 90 more survivors.
‘She had no right to be in Singapore’: Youth pleads guilty to abusing Filipino maid | INQUIRER.NET – A youth not only spat on his family’s domestic helper and threw a metal mug at her face, leaving her with injuries, but also told her that she was “only a maid, was poor and had no right to be in Singapore”. Ng Jia Sheng, 20, pleaded guilty on Tuesday (June 2) to using criminal force on Ms. Estabillo Soledad Agustin in 2018, as well as causing her grievous hurt by a rash act endangering her personal safety. He also admitted to using insulting words on the 41-year-old Filipino that caused her alarm, which is an offense under the Protection from Harassment Act. Two other charges will be taken into consideration during sentencing on a later date.
NBI raids illegal medical facility in Parañaque | Manila Bulletin – Four Chinese nationals were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) during a raid on an illegal medical facility in Parañaque City which has been catering to their compatriots. NBI Officer-In-Charge Eric Distor on Wednesday, June 3, identified the four Chinese nationals as Liang JunShuai, Pingqiang Long, Yanyun Jiang, and Tang Hong Shan. Distor said the four were arrested last by agents of the NBI’s Task Force Against Illegal Drugs (NBI-TFAID) during an entrapment operation held last Friday, May 19, at the illegal facility located inside a subdivision in Paranaque City. Following the operation, the four Chinese nationals were presented for inquest before the Paranaque City Prosecutor’s Office for violating Republic Act 2382, the Medical Act of 1959; RA 9711, the Food and Drug Administration Act of 2009; RA 7394, the Consumer Act of the Philippines; and RA 4226, the Hospital Licensure Act.
Church gatherings disallowed – Palace | The Manila Times – Mass gatherings for religious purposes remain prohibited, Malacañang said on Tuesday despite the easing quarantine restrictions implemented to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said the decision to keep the ban on large religious gatherings was reached by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases ((IATF-EID) during a meeting on Monday. Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said the decision to keep the ban on large religious gatherings was reached by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases ((IATF-EID) during a meeting on Monday.
Asian rights network sounds alarm on anti-terror bill | PHILSTAR.COM – A network of 81 human rights organizations based in 21 Asian countries have collectively denounced the railroading of anti-terrorism legislation in the Philippines which they said would solidify the government’s abuse of power and further erode human rights in the country. The proposed “Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020” (House Bill 6875) was approved on second reading in the House of Representatives on Tuesday despite overwhelming public backlash. It is expected to be passed into law before Congress adjourns Friday since President Rodrigo Duterte certified it as urgent.
