News Roundup 24 July 2020
Jul 24, 2020 • 4 min Read
COVID-19 cases in Philippines cross 76,000 | PHILSTAR.COM – The total number of active coronavirus cases in the Philippines passed the 50,000-level as the national caseload reached 76,444 Friday. The Department of Health announced 2,103 new cases. The number of active cases stood at 50,063 Friday. Nine of 10 coronavirus cases in the country were mild, while 8.93% were asymptomatic. Severe cases comprised 0.49% of the total, while critical cases were at 0.43%. The DOH also reported 144 additional recovered patients, raising the total number of COVID-19 survivors to 24,502. But 15 more people died from COVID-19, pushing the death toll to 1,879.
DILG reiterates ban on mass gatherings ahead of SONA 2020 | PHILSTAR.COM – Days before the president’s fifth and penultimate State of the Nation Address, the Department of Interior and Local Government on Thursday issued a memorandum reiterating the COVID-19 task force’s prohibition of mass gatherings amid the community quarantine. Major Gen. Debold Sinas, Metro Manila’s police chief, said during a Friday press conference that the memo demanded “strict compliance” with the task force resolution. When asked whether physical rallies during the SONA would still be allowed, Sinas said in a mix of English and Filipino: “On our initial dialogue, we have agreed to that but we will talk to [the groups arranging protests] because this new directive was issued yesterday. Issued from chief executive of the DILG.” As a result of this announcement, the Quezon City local government has said it will no longer issue permits to groups intending to hold protests during the president’s address on Monday. “All LGUs are constrained by the directive of the national government through the DILG dated July 23 to follow,” Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said.
Fire, file plunder charges vs ‘corrupt’ PhilHealth execs — Pangilinan | INQUIRER.NET – Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Friday urged the government to fire and file plunder charges against officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) who were unmasked by a resigned anti-fraud-officer. This, after a source revealed that three PhilHealth executives tendered their resignations due widespread corruption of the state’s health insurance agency. In a statement, Pangilinan said that the PhilHealth mess uncovered by former anti-fraud officer, Atty. Thorrson Montes Keith should spur the government to arrest the executives involved, if only to show how “serious” it is in addressing the country’s COVID-19 problem. “If the Duterte government is serious in prioritizing the safety of the people, it will immediately terminate, charge with plunder, and jail all those involved in the PhilHealth anomaly. This is the real political will we want to see, not fake bluster,” the opposition senator said in a statement.
Labor groups to join SONAgkaisa protests | Manila Bulletin – Labor groups under United Workers will march together on Monday, July 27 for the SONAgkaisa protest actions. The group – composed of Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), NAGKAISA! Labor Coalition, and Pagkakaisa ng Uring Manggagawa (PAGGAWA), announced the unified action in a virtual presser Friday, saying they are protesting against the administration’s anti-worker policies as with the lack of social protection programs for the millions rendered unemployed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement, NAGKAISA! Chairperson and Federation of Free Workers (FFW) President Sonny Matula said: “We call on the DOLE to junk Department Order 213, which suspends labor inspections and legal proceedings that workers can avail of to protect their rights, and Labor Advisory 17, which encourages companies to reduce wages and benefits.” “These policies unjustly favor employers over workers. It reflects the current administration’s disposition towards our country’s economic recovery, which prioritizes profits over the welfare of workers,” he added.
Catholic Church leaders join petition vs anti-terror law| The Manila Times – Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, and several other Church leaders and groups and private individuals joined a petition asking the Supreme Court (SC) to declare the entire Anti-Terror Act of 2020 unconstitutional. The petition for certiorari and prohibition, with prayer for temporary restraining order andor writ of preliminary injunctions, was filed on Friday by petitioners who were assisted by the Public Interest Law Center (PILC). More than a dozen petitions have, so far, been filed at the High Court, all questioning the constitutionality of the contentious provisions of Republic Act (RA) 11479 or the Anti-Terror Act of 2020.
