News Roundup 04 July 2020
Jul 04, 2020 • 3 min Read
COVID-19 cases in Philippines nearly 42,000 with 1,494 new infections |PHILSTAR.COM – The country’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tally has climbed to 41,830 after the Department of Health on Saturday announced 1,494 more infections. The death toll stands at 1,290 after the Health department confirmed 10 more patients who succumbed to the coronavirus. Meanwhile, 380 additional survivors brought the COVID-19 recovery count to 11,453.
First petition vs anti-terrorism law filed electronically at Supreme Court | PHILSTAR.COM – A group of lawyers on Saturday electronically filed at the Supreme Court a Petition for Certiorari and Prohibition with Urgent Prayer for the Issuance of a TRO (Temporary Restraining Order) and Writ of Preliminary Injunction and/or Other Injunctive Remedies questioning the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 signed into law Friday. The petitioners seek to nullify pertinent provisions of the said law and prohibit it from being enforced. “While threats to our national security need to be addressed, the law, as crafted, is oppressive and inconsistent with our Constitution, hence, the petition. This fight against Terrorism should not and should never be a threat to the fundamental freedoms of all peaceful Filipinos,” Calleja Law Firm said in a Saturday social media post. The group led by Ateneo and Law Salle law professor/lecturer and lawyer Howard Calleja will proceed to the high court on Monday to physically file the petition. The list of petitioners also includes lawyer Joseph Peter Calleja, UP Law professor Christopher John Lao, doctor Reynaldo J. Echavez, Napoleon Siongco, Raeyan Reposar, civic groups Frontliners: Tunay na Bayani and Bagong Siklab Pilipinas, as well as Br. Armin A. Luistro, FSC, of the De La Salle Brothers Incorporated.
‘Fight not over yet:’ Pangilinan denounces passage of Anti-Terror Act | INQUIRER.NET – Senator Francis Pangilinan on Friday denounced the signing into law of the controversial anti-terrorism bill but said he was “not surprised” given what he called was the administration’s “draconian” brand of leadership. “I am not surprised. From Day 1 this Administration unleashed draconian and authoritarian measures as a showcase of its brand of leadership. These draconian measures however have been exposed as nothing more than a show of senseless, mindless violence as means to sow fear amongst the people,” Pangilinan said in a statement shortly after President Rodrigo Duterte signed the measure despite widespread opposition. The senator further stressed that the anti-terror law would not serve as a solution to the prevailing health crisis. “Basura ang pilit na isinusubo sa taumbayan. Dapat ibasura ang walang kwentang batas na ito at handa tayong kwestyunin ang constitutionality ng batas na ito sa Korte Suprema,” he said. (What’s being fed to the public is trash. This worthless law should be junked and we are ready to question its constitutionality before the Supreme Court). “Hindi pa tapos ang boksing. Hindi pa tapos ang laban,” he added. (The boxing’s not over yet. The fight has not yet ended).
Church leaders raise alarm over Anti-Terrorism Law | Manila Bulletin – Church leaders have raised alarm after President Duterte signed the controversial anti-terrorism bill into law. Balanga, Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos said that “our freedom of speech is now threatened, and we are now terrorized.” “This anti terrorism will not give us peace of mind but anxiety that it will be used, even abused, for us to be accused, arrested without due process or warrant,” he said in a statement. Santos said that the new measure will not give the country “peace, harmony nor will unite us.”
Further easing of lockdown by July 16 | The Manila Times – All areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) could shift to a more relaxed modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) by July 16, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Friday. The further easing of lockdown restrictions is in line with the recently approved second National Action Plan (NAP) against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
