News Roundup 12 April 2020
Apr 12, 2020 • 2 min Read
’Selective quarantine’ possible if Luzon-wide lockdown strictly followed – Galvez | INQUIRER.NET – Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., National Task Force COVID-19 chief implementer, said Sunday night that a “selective quarantine” is possible if the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) is successful. In a virtual briefing, Galvez said such a set up would be likely if there is massive testing of suspected novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases, a decrease in the rate of deaths and new cases, and an increase in capacity of local health units.
Palace, Army condemn NPA ‘raid’ that officials of Eastern Samar town have no knowledge of | PHILSTAR.COM – The Palace as well as military officials are condemning a supposed New People’s Army raid that officials of Balangiga, Eastern Samar have no reports about. A report by state-owned PTV News said that some 30 armed members of the NPA attacked Sitio Bangon, Barangay Guinmayohan in Balangiga, Eastern Samar on November 7, just as barangay officials were distributing relief goods to families affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. “We have not received such reports from the locals,” Balangiga Mayor Randy Graza is quoted in a report carried by news website PressOne and by Eastern Samar News Service (ESTE). The same report notes that “Police Lt. Allan Java Calceta, chief of Balangiga Police Station, said they had conducted a ‘revalidation’ of the incident in Barangay Guinmaayohan together with personnel of the Provincial Police Office, and found out that there was no such incident on April 7”.
Give incentives to health workers barred from going abroad — Robredo | Manila Bulletin – Vice President Leni Robredo said government should give incentives to doctors, nurses, and other health workers who were barred from leaving the country to work overseas, as the Philippines continues to grapple with the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) threat. The order from the Bureau of Immigration sought to boost the capacity of the health workers in the country with the help of those who were about to go abroad. In her radio show, the vice president cited governments in other countries who offered free lodging and transportation and higher salaries to health workers they have been prohibited from going abroad.
Makabayan bloc calls for prisoner release amid pandemic | The Manila Times – The Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives called on the government for the immediate release of vulnerable detainees and prisoners to prevent a possible “grave disaster” in overcrowded jail facilities in the country due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. “We strongly support the petition filed before the Supreme Court for the release of political prisoners from the different detention facilities who are vulnerable to Covid-19 due to their conditions as elderly, sick or pregnant and are committed or detained in facilities,” they said. The progressive lawmakers said it is practically impossible to practice self-isolation, physical distancing and other Covid-19 precautions in the overcrowded jail facilities in the Philippines.
