News Roundup 09 July 2020
Jul 09, 2020 • 3 min Read
No new deaths reported as COVID-19 tally in Philippines hits 51,754 | PHILSTAR.COM – Confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) case in the Philippines increased to 51,754 Thursday after the Department of Health reported 1,395 infections. The Philippines’ caseload is the second highest in Southeast Asia, behind Indonesia with over 68,000 cases. No additional deaths related to COVID-19 were reported Thursday. The fatality count remained at 1,314. The DOH also logged 225 additional COVID-19 survivors. This raised the total number of recoveries to 12,813.
Citing danger to organized labor, trade unionists join legal fight vs Anti-Terrorism Law | PHILSTAR.COM – Trade unionists assailed the constitutionality of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 before the Supreme Court, citing the danger the law poses on labor rights defenders. The Center for Trade Union and Human Rights (CTUHR) and Pro-labor Legal Assistance Center filed a Petition for Certiorari against Republic Act 11479. Like previously filed pleadings, they also sought for the issuance of a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against the new anti-terrorism law. The labor groups raised concern on how the anti-terrorism law would affect unionists and labor rights defenders, they said on a statement.
‘Bato’ to ABS-CBN workers in danger of going unemployed: Just find other jobs | INQUIRER.NET – Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has advised the over 11,000 ABS-CBN employees to just find other jobs should the media outfit close up shop with the non-renewal of its franchise. “Hanap ng ibang trabaho para mabuhay, magsumikap, may ibang paraan pa naman siguro para mabuhay tayo. Hanap ng ibang jobs,” Dela Rosa said in an online interview with reporters on Thursday. (Look for other jobs to make a living, work hard, there are other ways to make a living. Look for other jobs). “Alangan namang sabihin ko sa kanila na maghimagsik kayo, magwala kayo, hindi naman pwede yun. Hanap na lang kayo ng ibang trabaho para mabuhay ang pamilya ninyo,” he added. (As if I can tell them to protest, revolt, I can’t do that. Just find other jobs to provide for your families).
Leni claims Cebuanos frustrated by gaps in State response on COVID-19 | Manila Bulletin – Vice President Leni Robredo said Cebuanos are frustrated with the gaps in the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic during the quarantine period. Robredo noted the reports of her team on the ground as well as the complaints received by her office from Cebu City residents that stemmed from the apparent lack of a clear plan to fight COVID-19. “Iyong level of frustration mataas. At least ito iyong (reports na) natatanggap namin (The level of frustrations is high. At least these are the reports we have received),” she said in a radio interview. “Hindi naman ito actually reklamo sa mga ospital, pero reklamo sa nangyayari in general, na parang naghahanap sila ng mas defined na plano, saka mas defined na framework (This is not actually a complaint from hospitals, but it is a complaint for what’s happening in general, that they seem looking for a more defined plan and framework),” she said. Robredo sent a team to Cebu City, which is the only area in the country under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), to assess the current situation there and how her office can be of help to the government’s COVID-19 response.PGH can no longer accept severe, critical Covid cases — spokesman | The Manila Times – The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) can no longer accept severe and critical cases of Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), citing near full occupancy, its spokesman said on Thursday. Jonas Del Rosario said that the Manila-based referral facility is “90-95 percent” full. “We can’t accept severe or critical patients from other hospitals anymore because our ICU is already full,” he said on GMA Network’s morning program Unang Hirit on Thursday.
