News Roundup 18 May 2020
May 18, 2020 • 3 min Read
‘Not sent back to cops’: DOJ sets preliminary probe into homicide complaint over Ragos slay | PHILSTAR.COM – The Department of Justice has set a preliminary investigation into a homicide complaint over the killing of ex-soldier Winston Ragos—filed by his family and the Philippine National Police—next month. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra told Philstar.com that prosecutors did not remand the complaint to the police, clarifying Police Gen. Archie Gamboa’s earlier statement. “The DOJ in fact set it for a full-blown preliminary investigation in June (instead of a summary inquest) to afford all parties concerned sufficient opportunity to present their respective evidence,” Guevarra said. “Hearing is set in mid-June,” the DOJ chief added.
Ilonggo artists sell artworks to buy face masks for local residents | INQUIRER.NET – Ilonggo artists have raised more than P1.7 million by selling art works to help raise funds for the production and free distribution of 200,000 cloth face masks for Iloilo City residents. At least 80 artworks had been sold by Ilonggo Artists Against COVID-19, composed of Ilonggo artists mostly based in Iloilo and including those in Manila and other areas, according to visual artist Rock Drilon. Drilon said they expected to reach a target of P2.5 million to P3 million by the end of the month.
VP’s online market project a ‘blessing’ for vendors and trike drivers in QC | Manila Bulletin – Vice President Leni Robredo made a surprise visit on Sunday, May 18, to the market vendors and tricycle drivers who are beneficiaries of the Community Mart project. In partnership with the Quezon City government, Robredo’s office launched the app based delivery service, which can be downloaded in Apple Store and Google Play, to help small-scale vendors and tricycle drivers in this time of the COVID-19 crisis. “[I] made a surprise visit to our Community Mart this morning to check on our team, our vendors and TODA drivers. Ang happy lang (We are happy),” Robredo said in a Facebook post. During their meeting, the vendors and tricycle drivers summed it up for Robredo: the Community Mart was a big help to them. “They were telling us how much of a blessing this project is to them. Sa mga vendors, dagdag kita! Sa mga drivers, ngayon lang uli sila nagkaroon ng kita after two months,” she said. (For the vendors, they have additional income. For the drivers, they are now earning again after two months.) The vice president then thanked her staff and local officials who made this e-market project possible. The Community Mart is now servicing residents from eight barangays who can purchase vegetables, fruits, and other food items at the Kamuning Market.
PH military opens Rizal Memorial Coliseum as quarantine facility for suspected Covid patients | The Manila Times – The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday opened the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in Manila as a quarantine facility for suspected coronavirus patients. The facility will be composed of 100 beds and will be manned by an emergency medical team from the AFP Health Service Command consisting of four doctors, nine nurses, 17 medical aides, six military officers and enlisted personnel as administrative staff. Capt. Jonathan Zata, AFP public affairs chief, said the military led the blessing ceremony, which representatives from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Health (DoH) and members of the National Task Force against Covid-19 attended. Apart from the coliseum, the military also announced on Monday that it deployed soldiers that would help in the launch of the mega swabbing center at the Enderun Colleges in Taguig City.
