News Roundup 21 April 2021
Apr 21, 2021 • 3 min Read
Coronavirus cases in the Philippines hit 962,307 with 9,227 new infections | PHILSTAR.COM – The Philippines on Wednesday recorded 9,227 additional COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections to 962,307.
- Active cases: 116,434 or 12.1% of the total
- Recoveries: 19,699 pushing total to 829,608
- Deaths: 124, bringing total to 16,256
After child dies in chase, CHR reminds tanods quarantine meant to protect children | PHILSTAR.COM – The Commission on Human Rights expressed concern Wednesday over the death of a young boy who was chased by barangay watchmen in Pasay City, adding that it is already conducting a parallel and independent probe on the matter. In a statement sent to reporters, the commission reminded barangay and police authorities that minors who are guilty of violating quarantine rules must be turned over to their parents, guardians, or a social worker so they are given proper intervention. To recall, two tanods of Barangay 179 later identified as Relan Maquiling and Arturo Rontos were seen chasing the youth after supposedly responding to a report from “concerned citizens” about young children playing outdoors and causing a commotion. The two watchmen claim the boy simply tripped and fell. “Protecting children is among the primary aim of the quarantine guidelines with its restrictions for minors. It is deeply concerning and devastating when the implementation of this policy results in the deprivation of the utmost right to life of a child,” the commission’s statement read. “Children who commit quarantine infraction must be handled with utmost consideration to their welfare and rights. The quarantine policy is in place to protect minors and the community, not to harm them.”
11 Eastern Visayas nurses sent to NCR to add to hospital workforce amid COVID-19 surge | INQUIRER.NET – At least 11 nurses from Eastern Visayas were deployed to the National Capital Region (NCR) to augment the hospital workforce there amid a spike in the number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases. Dr. Exuperia Sabalberino, director of the Department of Health in Eastern Visayas, led the send-off ceremony at the Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport Wednesday. “We thank you for your selfless offering of yourself for the people of NCR. It is better to help than to be of help,” she said. All 11 nurses will be assigned at the Philippine Heart Center. Sabalberino hoped the COVID cases in NCR would go down so these medical workers could return to the region early.
Police major fears for life after murder of complainant in extortion, rape raps versus 11 cops | Manila Bulletin – A police major fears for his safety following the murder here of a 35-year-old woman who filed a string of charges against a group of policemen. Police Major Alejandro Batobalonos, chief of the Philippine National Police Integrity Monitoring and Enhancement Group-Visayas Field Unit (IMEG-VFU), said he didn’t know what hit him after learning that Ritchie Nepomuceno was gunned down by two motorcycle-riding assailants in Barangay Basak-Pardo around 6 p.m. Monday. “Sa nahitabo ni Nepomuceno, mura ko’g na blangko unsa akong buhaton kay nibati pud ko’g kabalaka sa akong security (Because of what happened to Nepomuceno, I felt confused. I don’t know what to do because I am also worried over my security),” said Batobalonos. IMEG-VFU had assisted Nepomuceno in filing criminal charges against 11 policemen from the Sawang Police Calero Station in this city. Nepomuceno accused the 11 policemen of threatening and extorting money from her. One of the policemen, Staff Sgt. Celso Colita, allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself in the head inside the toilet of the Regional Police Drug Enforcement Group office. Nepomuceno had accused Colita of raping her twice in a motel.
