News Roundup 19 February 2022
Feb 19, 2022 • 4 min Read
Philippines logs 1,923 new COVID-19 cases, lowest in over a month | PHILSTAR.COM – After a dramatic spike in coronavirus cases early this year driven by the hyper-infectious Omicron variant, the Philippines logged Saturday its lowest number of new infections since December 30 with the Department of Health reporting just 1,923 new COVID-19 patients. The DOH said six laboratories were unable to submit testing data, but they only accounted for 0.8% of all samples and 0.4% of all positive individuals. Of the new cases, 95% occurred within the last 14 days. Metro Manila accounted for 371 of the new cases, while 197 of the cases were reported in Calabarzon and 188 of the cases were reported in Central Luzon. The new infections bring the total number of people who have tested positive for the coronavirus to 3,650,748. Meanwhile, 198 more people died, bringing the death toll to 198 and 5,158 more recovered, pushing the total number of people who have gotten well to 3,532,608. With the new cases, deaths and recoveries, the number of active COVID-19 cases is now at 62,533, the lowest since January 6.
CHR coducts probe on ‘possible violations’ of police in arrest of community doctor | PHILSTAR.COM – The Commission on Human Rights is investigating “possible violations” committed by police in the arrest and detention of Ma. Natividad Castro, a doctor, human rights and development worker who is accused of kidnapping and serious illegal detention. “CHR has dispatched a quick response team in [Metro Manila] and Caraga and is undertaking a motu proprio investigation on the reports received that indicate possible violations of the Philippine National Police rules of procedure, among other issues,” it said. The CHR noted that Castro had been red-tagged for her work, which include initiating health programs in Mindanao, bringing members of the Lumad community before the United Nations in Geneva to seek help against harassment in their areas, and serving as secretary general of rights group Karapatan in Caraga region. Incidentally, the PNP has claimed that Castro is a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines’ central committee and head of its national health bureau based in Barangay Libertad in Butuan City. Caraga police said Castro was allegedly involved in the kidnapping of a member of the CAFGU Active Auxiliary in Sibagat, Agusan del Sur on Dec. 29, 2018.
Refrain from partisan politics, Drilon tells Comelec | Manila Bulletin – Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon has called on the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to refrain from engaging in partisan politics and warned election regulators that appearance of bias at partiality might pose serious threats to the integrity and credibility of the May 2022 national and local elections. Drilon emphasized that the credibility of the 2022 national and local elections relies on the ability of the Comelec to properly execute the election laws. ‘’I would like to remind the agency of its constitutional mandate to ensure free, orderly, honest, peaceful and credible elections,” Drilon said in a statement released today, Feb. 19. “I am alarmed, therefore, by the reports of abuses and partisanship surrounding the implementation of ‘Oplan Baklas’. It reeks of partisan politics. Any appearance of bias and partiality may cast a dark cloud over the credibility of the election process,” he stressed. “Does the Comelec also intend to remove faces of candidates plastered on commercial buses and billboards along EDSA? The same principle applies as these are also private properties but exposed to the public,” he added. Drilon said election officers should not dip their fingers in partisan politics. “Let us maintain the nonpartisan nature of election officers. They must shun politics at all costs. Otherwise, the credibility of the elections, most particularly the presidential election will suffer,” Drilon said. The former justice secretary said that election jurisprudence upheld the exercise of the citizens of their constitutional right to free speech during elections.
Ex-Davao City accountant new COA chief | INQUIRER.NET – President Duterte has signed the appointment paper of Rizalina Justol as new chair of the Commission on Audit (COA), acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said on Friday. Justol replaces Michael Aguinaldo, whose term ended on Feb. 2. Justol was deputy executive secretary for finance and administration under the Office of the President before her transfer to the audit agency. Duterte signed her appointment paper on Feb. 17. She also worked as city accountant of Davao, where Mr. Duterte was mayor for a total of 22 years. In 2010, she was one of the respondents among Davao City officials, including Duterte himself as mayor, in a plunder complaint filed at the Office of the Ombudsman. The complaint cited a report by the COA on the misappropriation of P11 million in the city’s Special Education Fund, among other findings.
