News Roundup 13 August 2021
Aug 13, 2021 • 4 min Read
Philippines logs 13,177 new COVID-19 cases in highest daily rise since April 2 | PHILSTAR.COM – Local health authorities on Friday reported 13,177 more COVID-19 infections, bringing the national caseload to 1,713,302.
- Active cases: 96,395 or 5.6% of the total
- Recoveries: 4,322, pushing total to 1,587,069
- Deaths: 299, bringing total to 29,838
This is the second-highest daily rise in cases ever recorded since the start of the pandemic, trailing only behind the record 15,310 infections recorded in April 2.
CHR warns arming firefighters ‘might cause more harm than good’ | PHILSTAR.COM – The Commission on Human Rights on Friday aired its concern over a provision in a bill that would authorize over 2,000 firefighters across the country to carry guns. The bicameral version of the bill seeking to modernize the Bureau of Fire Protection cleared the Senate on August 4 and is now up for President Rodrigo Duterte’s signature. Its sponsor in the upper chamber, Sen. Ronald dela Rosa, said a total of 2,282 firefighters would be authorized to carry guns if the measure is enacted. “Arming firemen will not contain fires nor can it enhance the efficiency of the firefighters’ performance of their duties and functions,” CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said in a statement. “However, such challenges can be addressed by using the budget for the purchasing of guns to buy more firetrucks, hire more firemen, and build more fire stations to respond adequately to residential and non-residential fires.” Dela Rosa last week told senators that creating a Security and Protection Unit of the BFP in each city and municipality would serve to protect firefighters when faced with “unruly” people while on duty.
Senate blue ribbon panel to probe DOH’s use of COVID-19 funds | INQUIRER.NET – The Senate blue ribbon committee will open next week an investigation into how the Department of Health (DOH) handled over P67 billion of its COVID-19 pandemic response fund in 2020, which state auditors earlier found to have deficiencies. “Bubuksan ko yang [I will open a] blue ribbon [investigation] on Wednesday just to ask the Department of Health why they cannot spend the [P67] billion that was given to them,” Senator Richard Gordon, chairman of the committee, said Friday in an online forum on the country’s vaccination program organized by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority. “I do not want to fix the blame, I just want to fix the problem and to make sure that they do that. They have to answer to our countrymen on why we’re not able to do what we’re supposed to do,” he added. The blue ribbon committee looks into the accountability of public officers. In its 2020 report, the Commission on Audit (COA) found deficiencies in how the DOH managed P67.32 billion of its fund to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that it contributed to challenges that the country faced during the health crisis. Aside from the COA report, the blue ribbon investigation will also cover other issues related to DOH’s budget utilization, with a particular focus on its pandemic spending.
DND confirming presence of Chinese research ship near Panatag Shoal | Manila Bulletin – An investigation is now underway to validate reports about the alleged presence of a Chinese research vessel spotted near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), the Department of National Defense (DND) has revealed. DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Thursday, Aug. 12, that he was informed about the alleged sighting of a Chinese research vessel near Panatag Shoal or Bajo de Masinloc in Zambales coast. “We are verifying the report of the alleged presence of a Chinese research ship spotted near Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. Our next course of action will be based on the facts that are gathered by the maritime patrols in the area,” Lorenzana said. Ryan Martinson, an assistant professor at the United States Naval War College, said in a Twitter post that a Chinese research ship identified as “Hai Da Hao” was spotted 65 nautical miles east off Panatag Shoal last Wednesday. Martinson provided map images showing the movements of the research vessel, which is being operated by the China Ocean University, a learning institution based in Qingdao, China. Later that night, Martinson said the vessel had departed the country’s 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ). However, he claimed that two other Chinese ships were still allegedly operating within the country’s territorial waters. He identified it as “Jia Geng” and “Dong Fang Hong 3.” Chinese vessel Jia Geng had been the subject of a diplomatic protest in the past as it was detected entering the WPS–allegedly for illegal research activities–in Panatag Shoal and Kalayaan Island Group (KIG) in April and May 2020. In January 2021, Jia Geng again entered the country’s EEZ and docked off Catanduanes. The Chinese Embassy denied reports of its illegal activities and said the vessel just sought shelter from bad weather. Meanwhile, Dong Fang Hong 3 had been found operating near Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte in August 2019. Lorenzana assured the public that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has been consistent in conducting maritime and sovereignty patrols to assert and protect the country’s position in the WPS.
