News Roundup 07 June 2020
Jun 07, 2020 • 3 min Read
Palace stands by restrictions on public transportation | PHILSTAR.COM – Malacañang on Sunday stood firm on its decision to prohibit some modes of public transportation as a precautionary measure against the coronavirus despite a poll indicating that the majority of Filipino families view the restriction as burdensome. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque justified the transportation restriction, saying the government cannot be complacent until a vaccine for the pandemic is developed. “We heard the sentiments and understand the predicament of workers (who commute) from their places of residence to their workplaces and vice versa when we reopened the economy… We have to consider, however, that Metro Manila, is still under general community quarantine (GCQ); thus, the threat of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) still exists and is real,” Roque said in a statement.
PH COVID-19 cases rise to 21,895; death toll breaches 1,000-mark | INQUIRER.NET – The total number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the Philippines is now at 21,895, the Department of Health (DOH) said Sunday. The DOH said that it logged 378 new “fresh cases,” meaning the test results were released within the last three days. The health department added that there were also 177 “late” cases, as these were detected at least four days ago, but were only validated recently by its Epidemiology Bureau. Of the total number of cases, there are now 4,530 recoveries as 89 new patients successfully recovered from the viral disease. the death toll for COVID-19 has breached the 1,000-mark, as nine new fatalities were reported, bringing the total to 1,003.
Pasig City procures P1-M worth of bike racks for ‘new normal’ commuting | Manila Bulletin – Pasig City is procuring about P1-million worth of bicycle racks as part of the city’s move to promote the use of two-wheeled vehicles and other alternative modes of transportation under the “new normal” in commuting. This was disclosed by Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto on Sunday (June 7), who said that setting up bike racks is “more cost efficient” than constructing more parking spaces for cars.
‘There was police maltreatment’ | The Manila Times – CEBU CITY: An arrested spectator at the anti-terror bill protest in this city said there was police maltreatment of unarmed protesters. On June 6, a day after his arrest, Clement Ventic Corominas Jr., 19, told The Manila Times via Facebook Messenger chat that he witnessed police violence as officers “hauled the seven protesters into a police car.” “I can confirm that their allegations of manhandling against the police are all true. I have seen it personally,” said Corominas, who was at the scene to film the peaceful protest in front of the University of the Philippines (UP) Visayas campus. Corominas said Jaime Paglinawan, 60, secretary general of Bayan Muna Central Visayas, “was being choked by three men and another protester was held at the back of the neck and was dragged.” “A female protester was lifted but there [were] no visible bruises,” he said. “I was not [maltreated], but the arresting officers were screaming at me.” Corominas was one of eight persons arrested by police on Friday at UP Cebu in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City while an anti-terror bill protest action was taking place.
