News Roundup 24 September 2020
Sep 24, 2020 • 3 min Read
Philippines adds 2,180 new COVID-19 cases; total now at 296,755 | PHILSTAR.COM – The Philippines recorded 2,180 new coronavirus infections Thursday, taking the country’s caseload to 296,755. Researchers studying the coronavirus outbreak in the country earlier projected that the Philippines would have 310,000 to 330,000 total COVID-19 case by end-September. The DOH also logged that some 580 more people recovered from the disease, bringing the total number of recoveries to 231,928. The country’s fatality count, however, increased to 5,127 after 36 additional deaths were reported.
US bill seeks to cut security aid to Philippines due to Duterte’s anti-terror law | PHILSTAR.COM – A proposed legislation has been introduced in the US Congress to block funding for security forces in the Philippines until the government puts an end to human rights violations. Rep. Susan Wild (Pennsylvania) formally introduced Thursday (Manila time) HR 8131 or the Philippine Human Rights Act, which seeks to block US security assistance to the Philippines until the government makes certain reforms to the military and police forces. In a speech at the US Congress, Wild, a Democrat lawmaker, said the “brutal” regime of President Rodrigo Duterte is using the pretext of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 to “ramp up efforts targeting labor organizers, workers and political opponents.” “In response to these abuses, I introduced the Philippine Human Rights Act, which would block US funding for police or military assistance to the Philippines, outlining a series of basic criteria which would have to be met in order to resume such funding,” Wild said. “Let us make clear that the United States will not participate in the repression. Let us stand with the people of the Philippines,” she added.
Ex-Ombudsman to Martires on order limiting SALN access: ‘You are supposed to be transparent’ | INQUIRER.NET – The decision of Ombudsman Samuel Martires to limit public access to a government official’s Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) goes against a constitutional principle which calls for transparency, his predecessor said. “It goes against the constitutional principle that public office is a public trust. There’s this law which mandates the filing of SALNs and also mandates that the public shall be entitled to even a photocopy of the SALN of public officials or employees for as long as they don’t cross the prohibited acts,” former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales said in an interview over ABS-CBN News Channel. “It does not carry out the spirit of the law which means that public office is a public trust and therefore you are supposed to be transparent,” Morales added. The filing of SALN is required under Republic Act No. 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.
Senators question DBM’s move to cut items in Judiciary’s budget | Manila Bulletin – Senators on Thursday, Sept. 24, questioned the decision of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to cut pertinent items, such as the budget for the salaries of judges-at-large, in the proposed P43.54-billion budget of the judiciary for 2021. The issue was raised by the Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta after Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon inquired about the status of the implementation of the law which called for the appointments of judges-at-large to solve the uneven docket load of various second level courts all over the country. Angara noted there was P126.47-million inserted by the Senate in 2020 budget of the SC for the hiring of judges-at-large and for other items. According to Midas, the said funds for the 50 slots of positions for judges-at-large were released in 2020, but none are included in their 2021 budget.
Local business groups back shift of Metro Manila to MGCQ | The Manila Times – Business groups have expressed support for further easing of quarantine restrictions in Metro Manila to open more sectors of the economy, as the government continues its fight against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. In a statement, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion 3rd said he pushed to put the National Capital Region under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) by October as he emphasized the importance of keeping such status in getting the economy back on track.
