News Roundup 21 August 2020
Aug 21, 2020 • 3 min Read
COVID-19 infections in Philippines breach 182,000 with 4,786 new cases | PHILSTAR.COM – The Department of Health on Friday reported 4,786 new infections of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), raising the country’s total caseload to 182,365. Of these, there are 64,906 total active cases or patients who are still infected with the coronavirus. The local COVID-19 recovery count has reached 114,519 as the Health department announced 616 additional survivors. Meanwhile, the death toll stands at 2,940 after 59 more patients succumbed to the coronavirus.
Echanis sustained multiple wounds before fatal stab in heart — forensic pathologist | PHILSTAR.COM – Elderly peasant activist Randall Echanis suffered several punctures and stab wounds before he was deliberately stabbed fatally, showing implications of torture, a forensic pathologist said. Forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun, in a virtual presser hosted by Anakpawis party-list, could not explicitly say it was torture, explaining that “torture” is not a conclusion or term in her field of study. “The implication [of torture] seems to be there, that if literally torture means suffering was inflicted, in this sense, physical suffering, it looks like he sustained a lot of injuries first that were not intended to kill him outright,” she said. An examination of the body showed that Echanis died due to a stab wound to the back that hit his aorta, the main artery connected the heart. “I would say na mukhang totoong binaon and again that would be indicative of deliberateness,” Fortun explained. While this fatal wound “killed him at once, however, he had other injuries which were inflicted while he was still alive,” she noted. “You see the distribution [of stab wounds] at the back. This is where you can see that there is seemingly a pattern. It implies intent, then he was not immediately killed,” Fortun added in a mix of English and Filipino.
As we endure another dark night, we draw inspiration from Ninoy’s story — VP Leni | INQUIRER.NET – Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday cited the inspiring life and struggles of former Sen, Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino who was assassinated at the then Manila International Airport 37 years ago. “Today, as we endure yet another dark night, we draw inspiration from Ninoy’s story,” Robredo said. “Every year, on August 21, we remember Senator Ninoy Aquino. We remember his death: How he was murdered before he even set foot on the tarmac, coming home from exile to continue the struggle for our freedoms and dignities,” Robredo said in a statement. “We remember why he was killed: For speaking truth to power. For believing that we deserve better as a people. For hoping, and acting on that hope, and being brave enough to lay down his life for that hope,” she added. But most of all, Filipinos remember what Aquino’s death meant for the entire nation on this date, said Robredo. “Sa halip na matakot, lalo tayong tumapang. Sa halip na sumuko, nagkaisa tayo at tumindig,” she noted. (Instead of being cowed, we became braver. Instead of yielding, we united and stood up.)
36 percent of Pinoys expect their lives to worsen in next 12 months — SWS | Manila Bulletin – Thirty-six percent of adult Filipinos expect their quality of life to worsen in the next 12 months, the latest surveys showed. The Social Weather Stations (SWS) said on Friday, Aug. 21, that this was revealed by the National Mobile Phone Survey conducted from July 3 to 6. “The 36% Pessimists in July 2020 is the second highest proportion in the 37-year series,” the SWS said. “Pessimists peaked at 43% in May 2020, breaking the previous record 34% in March 2005,” it noted.
LPA in Batanes likely to develop into tropical depression in 24 hrs–Pagasa | The Manila Times – A low pressure area (LPA) was spotted in Batanes and may develop into a tropical depression in 24 hours, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said on Friday. In its 10 a.m. advisory, Pagasa said the LPA was 55 kilometers east of Basco and together with habagat or the southwest monsoon would bring light to moderate with at times heavy rains over Cagayan Valley, Ilocos Region, Zambales, Bataan, Cavite, Batangas, Mindoro provinces and northern Palawan. Scattered rains and thunderstorms may prevail over the rest of Luzon, the state-run weather agency said.
